Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala appointed new WTO Director General

History has been made as the first African woman is appointed as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization.

Nigeria’s ex-finance minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala on Monday has been appointed the new leader of the World Trade Organization, making her the first woman and African to lead the Switzerland-based organization. This would not be the first time Okonjo-Iweala will be making history.

The WTO leadership role came with a struggle as Okonjo-Iweala's WTO candidacy was opposed by the United States, although other geographic regions supported her. In October, the United States under the then Trump-led administration said it would continue to support the South Korean candidate.

“My vision is also a rejuvenated and strengthened WTO that will be confident to tackle effectively ongoing issues,” Okonjo-Iwaela told WTO members during a hearing in July. “It is clear that a rules-based system without a forum in which a breach of the rules can be effectively arbitrated loses credibility over time.”

Following the exit of former US President Donald Trump, and inauguration of Joe Biden as the new president, the United States approved Okonjo-Iweala after Biden announced his support for the former Nigerian minister of finance.

The World Trade Organization is currently at a time when many countries seem to violate long-standing trade rules governing international trade, as seen in the U.S. – China trade wars. Under the U.S. Trump administration, the WTO was unable to appoint new judges, preventing it from being able to settle any trade disputes.

Bearing the WTO challenges in mind, Okonjo-Iweala said she is well-prepared take on any hardship thrown at her, having experienced the Nigerian civil war as a teenager and political threats thrown at her during her time as Nigeria’s finance minister.

“The WTO appears paralyzed at a time when its rule book would greatly benefit from an update to the issues such as e-commerce and the digital economy, the green and circular economies,” Okonjo-Iweala.

Besides rejuvenating international trade, Okonjo-Iweala is also likely to encourage female participation in global trade, after she reportedly said more “efforts should be made to include-women-owned enterprises in the formal sector.”

The new WTO Director General will formally assume office on March 1, her renewable term will expire on August 31 2025.

“This is a very significant moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next Director Genera; and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting,” David Walker, General Council Chair of New Zealand.

Okonjo-Iweala also expressed her gratitude on being appointed as the new WTO Director-General. She said, together, she hopes to achieve a stronger WTO as they all strive towards quickly recovering from the impacts of Covid-19.