Photo: Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO DG
Nigeria’s Amazon and Director General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweal, has been returned as the DG of the WTO.
Her return was all but guaranteed months ago when it emerged that there was no candidate willing to challenge her for the position.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s term ends in August 2025, but the body’s regulation requires candidates to indicate their interest in the position at least 10 months before the date.
The deadline for would-be contestants expired on Friday, November 8, 2024.
However, Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, chair of the General Council, informed WTO members that no other nominations were received before the 8 November deadline.
Confirming her re-election, WTO on its verified X page (formerly Twitter) on Friday, November 29 in a terse post said: “Breaking: the General Council has appointed Director-General @NOIweala for a second term, effective 1 September 2025. More details to follow.”
The appointment of the Director-General is made by consensus among the WTO’s 166 member countries, a process she successfully navigated despite initial hurdles.
Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership has been instrumental in pushing forward a reform agenda for the WTO.
