Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, head of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has received a request from the African Group to run for a second term, according to a document released on Friday and cited by Reuters.
Before Cameroon hosts the next important ministerial meeting, it is imperative that the accomplishments obtained during her tenure be advanced, according to a document submitted by Chad.
“The African Group is of the view that it would be in the best interest of the Organization if the process of reappointment were to start early,” the statement read.
The African group consists of nine observers and 44 African WTO members. Typically, a single coordinator or negotiation team is used to represent the whole group.
When a WTO screening team proposed Okonjo-Iweala for the CEO job in October – a decision that required consensus – she faced resistance from the U.S. administration, led by former President Donald Trump.
The Biden administration announced its support for the former Nigerian Finance Minister to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organization after South Korea’s trade minister Yoo Myung-hee withdrew, making room for Okonjo-Iweala to assume the role of director-general of the global trade group.
The ruling brought the United States into line with most of the rest of the world, breaking with the Trump administration’s objection to Okonjo-Iweala.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a global finance specialist, economist, and international development professional, with over 40 years of experience in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
Being the first woman to fill both roles, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister twice (from 2003 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2015) and as Foreign Minister for a brief period in 2006.
She is well known for putting into place significant reforms that improved these ministries’ efficacy as well as the government’s general operation.
She also had a stellar 25-year career as a development economist at the World Bank, finally becoming the Managing Director of Operations. In her dual roles as Finance Minister and Development Economist.