A picture taken on July 15, 2020, in Geneva shows Nigerian former Foreign and Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala smiling during a hearing before World Trade Organization 164 member states' representatives, as part of the application process to head the WTO as Director General. - South Korean trade minister Yoo Myung-hee on February 5, 2021 abandoned her bid to become head of the WTOm, Seoul said, clearing the way for Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to become the global body's first woman and first African director-general. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Why I am seeking re-election as WTO DG — Okonjo-Iweala

By Matthew Denis

Former Nigerian Finance Minister and current Director General of World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has declared her plans to seek re-election citing reasons.

Recall that Iweala became the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in March 2021 as the first African and female to head the organisation.

Under the WTO consensus rules, she will retain her position if no one else shows interest in the seat and all the member-countries accept her.

Speaking on her interest on Monday the DG said “I would like to be part of this chapter of the WTO story, and I stand ready to compete for the position.

“For my second term, I intend to focus on delivering,” 70-year-old Iweala submitted on Monday while disclosing plans to make a letter available to the main decision body of the WTO to this effect.

The unfinished business include focusing on the deal on ending fisheries subsidies, achieving a breakthrough in global agriculture negotiations, reforming the WTO’s struggling dispute system, and decarburizing trade.

Iweala served as Minister of Finance under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and also returned to the federal cabinet during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

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