WTO: 58 countries support Okonjo-Iweala for second term as DG

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) says 58 member countries have supported a proposal from the African Group for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of WTO, to run for a second four-year term.

According to a statement by the Geneva-based organisation, 58 countries backed the call for a second term at the general council meeting held on Monday.

WTO has 164 members.

“The African Group requests that the current director-general make herself available to serve a second term, and has proposed that the process of reappointing the director-general should be started as soon as possible,” the trade organisation said.

“The current term of DG Okonjo-Iweala finishes at the end of August 2025. She is eligible for a second four-year term.

“Fifty-eight members, several speaking on behalf of groups of members, took the floor to comment and express their support for the African Group proposal.

“They called on DG Okonjo-Iweala to make her intentions known regarding a second term as soon as possible. Most of these members praised the DG’s hard work and her achievements during her first term.”

Commenting on the gesture, Okonjo-Iweala said she was very grateful for the support from members. 

“Everything that I’ve accomplished, we’ve accomplished together,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala also said she took the call of members very seriously and was favourably inclined. 

She added that she would give feedback to members very soon regarding her intentions.

Okonjo-Iweala, aged 70, is the seventh WTO boss.

The former Nigerian minister assumed as the director-general on March 1, 2021, for a single term of four years.

Prior to her position at WTO, Okonjo-Iweala served twice as a minister of finance in Nigeria from 2003 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2015 and briefly acted as foreign minister in 2006.