Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been named first female, African boss of WTO
The World Trade Organization has appointed Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its new director-general – making her the first woman and first African to hold the role.
Dr Okonzo-Ijeawala served as Nigeria’s finance minister and worked for 25 years as a specialist in development economics at the World Bank. She says she can be a “clear set of eyes” for the global trade body.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, 66, was appointed director-general of the World Trade Organization by representatives of the 164 member countries, according to a statement from the body.
She said in a statement that her first priority would be quickly addressing the economic and health consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and to “implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again.”
“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,” Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said.
“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,” she said.