The World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Tuesday accepted the nomination of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as one of the candidates for the office of the director-general of the organisation.
Okonjo Iweala, one-time Nigeria’s minister of finance, was nominated for the post by President Muhammadu Buhari, according to a tweet by Tolu Ogunlesi, presidential aide on digital and new media, on June 5.
The WTO announced on its website that “Nigeria, on 9 June 2020, nominated Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the post of WTO Director-General to succeed the current Director-General, Mr Roberto Azevêdo, who has announced he will step down on 31 August 2020”.
Egypt had opposed Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination, arguing that it was a violation of the executive decision of the African Union (AU) which had set a deadline of November 30, 2019 for African countries to nominate candidates.
It claimed that Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination was late and should not be recognised.
The WTO, however, said on Tuesday that nominations are still open till July 8, 2020.
“According to the timetable announced by the Chair of the General Council, David Walker, the nomination period will close on 8 July 2020,” WTO said on its website.
“Shortly after the nomination period has closed, candidates will be invited to meet with members at a special General Council meeting, present their views and take questions from the membership,” it said.
Other candidates nominated by their respective governments for the post of WTO director-general to succeed the Roberto Azevêdo are Jesús Seade Kuri (Mexico), who was nominated on June 8, and Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh (Egypt), who was nominated on June 9, according to the WTO.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.
