Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
She was appointed by the members of the organisation at a General Council following a selection process of eight candidates around the world.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala became the clear favourite to fill assume the post after her closest rival from South Korea, Ms Yoo Myung-hee stepped down recently.
She becomes the first African and first woman to assume the position of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala begins her tenure on the 1st of March 2021.
She is a seasoned economist and finance expert having served as Finance Minister twice (2003-2006) and (2011-2015). She also served briefly as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2006.
One of her numerous achievements includes the negotiations that led to the cancellation of Nigeria’s debt of $30b (outright cancellation of $18b) by the Paris Club of Creditors.
Congratulations š
Read her full biography here