[BREAKING] WTO DG: Nigeria reaches out to US, others over Okonjo-Iweala

The Federal Government on Friday announced that it was currently reaching out to the United States and other members of the World Trade Organisation to 

clear all bottlenecks to the emergence of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as Director-General of the WTO.

 

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Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, who doubles as the Chairperson of the Campaign Strategy Team for Okonjo-Iweala, Amb. Mariam Katagum, disclosed this at an emergency virtual meeting that she convened on Friday.

 

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Katagum and her team met to review and strategise on the way forward in the light of recent developments in the selection process for the appointment of a DG for the trade organisation.

She said in a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja that Nigeria was persuading the United States to adopt the Nigerian candidate as WTO DG following the overwhelming support which Okonjo-Iweala had garnered.

 

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The minister said, “Nigeria is currently reaching out to all members of the WTO including the United States of America and South Korea to overcome the impasse as well as persuade the United States to join the consensus in adopting the recommendation of the appointment of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as DG-WTO.”

 

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The United States further informed the council that they would not join the consensus in selecting Okonjo-Iweala as DG-WTO at the Special General Council of November 9, 2020.

Katagum expressed Nigeria’s profound appreciation to all members of the WTO who had supported Okonjo-Iweala, adding that Nigeria would reach out to other countries to secure the consensus needed in the final decision on her appointment.

“We shall keep you updated on this issue and hope that we would achieve the desired goal of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala securing appointment as the first African and the first female to head the WTO,” the minister stated.