Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been nominated new Director- General of the World Trade Organisation. Shattering a glass ceiling; she is the first female African leader of this organisation in its’ 25 years of operation to come this far in the competition.
Twice Nigeria’s finance minister and its first woman foreign minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been described as a trailblazer. Now the 66-year-old has made history by becoming the first African and woman in the final race towards being the head the World Trade Organisation.
South Korea’s candidate for the post has resigned.
It was the country’s trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee, who chose to step down from the post of director general, after months of uncertainty over who would head the worldwide organisation.
Yoo Myung-hee recently stated, according to the Financial Times , that the future of the WTO had become uncertain as a result of the protracted battle for the top seat.
The South Korean’s decision to withdraw his candidacy has subsequently paved the way for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former finance minister of Nigeria, to be given the title of Director – General of the World Trade Organisation.
Before Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala can officially call herself director general of the WTO, it requires the United States to finally approve the 66-year-old Nigerian for the post.
However, the White House said in a statement that “the United States is ready to engage in the next phase of the WTO process to reach agreement on the post of Director – General.”
‘The WTO needs a leader this time. It needs fresh breath, fresh face and an outsider with the ability to implement reforms and work with members to ensure the WTO gets out of the partial paralysis it is in, “she told CNN .
Source: CNN, Financial Times, Afronews.de