(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 15, 2020 Nigerian former Foreign and Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala smiles during a press conference in Geneva, following her hearing before World Trade Organization 164 member states’ representatives, as part of the application process to head the WTO as Director General. – European Union members states agreed on October 26, 2020 to back the candidacy of former Nigerian finance ministrer Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to lead the WTO. The World Trade Organization will announce its new director general next month, but sources said the 66-year-old economist would get EU support on October 27.
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emerges as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this known in a press statement on Thursday.
The statement signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, was titled, ‘Update on Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s aspiration to lead the World Trade Organisation’.
“Nigeria will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the lofty aspiration of her candidate to lead the World Trade Organisation is realised,” part of the statement read.
The ministry noted that the former Managing Director of the World Bank had secured the support of the majority of the WTO members with only the United States opposing her.
It stated that a meeting of the General Council of the WTO has been scheduled for November 9, 2020, for the final decision on the election process.
It said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the third and final round of the selection process of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization was concluded on Tuesday, 27th October 2020, and the result was formally announced on Wednesday, 28th October 2020.
“The candidate from Nigeria, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has secured the support of the majority of the member countries but is yet to be declared and returned the winner.
“This is because apart from winning the election, all the 164 Member States of WTO were expected to adopt the winner by consensus, in accordance with the rule of procedure of the WTO.
“It is important to highlight that Dr Okonjo-Iweala has secured cross-regional backing with only the United States opposing the consensus.”
