Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made history when she was appointed Director-General of the WTO on February 15, becoming the first woman and the first African to hold the post.
The election to lead the WTO is seen as a recognition of the accomplishments that Ms. Okonjo-Iweala has achieved during her many years of work in the Nigerian government and in international organizations.
Okonjo-Iweala (67 years old) was born in the Delta state in western Nigeria. He came to the United States in 1973 and graduated with a BA in economics from Harvard University in 1976. In 1981, he received his Ph.D. in development and regional economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
According to AP, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala has 25 years of experience working for the World Bank (WB) and is an advocate for economic growth and development in poor countries. Her efforts have helped Ms. Okonjo-Iweala rise to the position of CEO, ranked # 2 at the World Bank, in charge of Africa, Europe, South and Central Asia.
The new Director General of the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala, has decades of experience in economics and finance.
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In 2012, he ran for president of the World Bank with the support of Africa and developing countries, trying to break the American hold on this position.
Although this effort was unsuccessful, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala was also hailed as a “pusher” and supported by many. She returned to Nigeria in 2003 as Minister of Finance, becoming the first woman to sit in this chair. Ms. Okonjo-Iweala also briefly served as Secretary of State in 2006 before re-serving as Minister of Finance in 2011-2015.
Recently, she was appointed as a special envoy for the African Union to mobilize international assistance in the continent’s effort to address the economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Proponents argue that his tough negotiating skills helped Nigeria close deals with creditors to pay off billions of dollars in debt by 2005.
“She is not only popular in Nigeria. She is loved because she is an icon. People support her for the things she represents for women, ”Idayat Hassan of the Center for Africa’s Democracy and Development told AFP.
Recently, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala warned of the rise in protectionism and nationalism during the Cvid-19 pandemic and highlighted that trade barriers must be lowered to help the world recover. Nigeria’s former finance minister, a self-described pioneer in the fight against corruption, says her mother was kidnapped for her anti-corruption efforts.
However, critics argue that Okonjo-Iweala should do more to prevent corruption while in office, rather than shutting up and speaking out only after he has finished his job.
The administration of former US President Donald Trump has opposed the appointment of Ms. Okonjo-Iweala because it believes she lacks experience in trade and negotiation. However, the new WTO Director-General rejected and confirmed that he had worked in trade policy throughout his career.
As the first woman and the first African to serve as Director-General of the WTO, Ms Okonjo-Iweala admits to feeling the added pressure, but insists that it will bring results to make Africa and women dig in for themselves.
As Director-General of the WTO, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala is expected to face the challenge of promoting international trade dialogue in the context of tensions between the United States and China. Furthermore, the new WTO Director-General is also under pressure to reform international trade rules and tackle protectionism.
Former WTO Director General Pascal Lamy said Ms. Okonjo-Iweala has enough stature, experience, relationship and effort to get the job done. “I think she is a good choice. The key to its success will be the ability to operate between the US-EU-China triangle, ”Lamy said.
