Newly-appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, says the organisation will get the global economy running again during her tenure as the WTO DG.
Okonjo-Iweala stated this on Monday while reacting to her appointment, which takes effect from March 1, 2021.
The former finance minister of Nigeria also expressed willingness to make the WTO stronger, adding that the organisation would adapt to “realities of today”.
According to her, “I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO Director-General,” said Dr Okonjo-Iweala.
“A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again. Our organization faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.”
Okonjo-Iweala, who was appointed as WTO DG on Monday, is the first woman and African to head the global organisation. Her tenure begins on March 1.
The WTO tweet on Monday, “Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director-General. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO. Her term starts on the 1st of March 2021.
“WTO members took the decision to appoint @NOIweala at a special meeting of the General Council, following a selection process that included eight candidates from around the world #WTODG.”
The former minister had, a few days ago, secured the support of the administration of US President Joe Biden for the role.
Nigeria’s first woman finance minister trained as a development economist – she has degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard.
66-year-old Iweala spent a quarter of a century at the World Bank, rising to be managing director and running for the top role in 2012, and is seen as a trailblazer in her home country