By Emmanuel Nduka
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first African to head the World Trade Organization (WTO) is set to seek a second four-year term when her mandate expires next August, her spokesman said Monday.
“We can confirm that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has officially announced her intention to seek a second term as Director-General of the WTO,” spokesman Ismaila Dieng said in a statement, confirming Okonjo-Iweala’s decision to consolidate her achievements at the WTO.
The 70-year-old financial expert had taken into account “the overwhelming and broad-based support expressed by members,” Dieng said.
While her current term at the helm of the 166-member WTO ends in August 2025, Okonjo-Iweala’s decision to seek another term was officially communicated to WTO chair Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg on Monday.
The WTO’s African Group formally requested that she make herself available for a second term at that same meeting, and proposed that the process to re-nominate her should begin as soon as possible.
Heritage Times HT reports that so far, no other candidates have come forward.
The former Nigerian foreign and finance minister who took over in March 2021, has hinged her leadership on breathing new life into the sclerotic organisation.
