Video: Okonjo Iweala resumes office as WTO DG

Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala takes over the World Trade Organisation on Monday amid hopes that she will spur the beleaguered body into addressing its towering challenges, including the pandemic-fuelled global economic crisis.

“I am coming into one of the most important institutions in the world and we have a lot of work to do and I feel ready to go.”

the first woman and first African to ever lead the global had said.

The 66-year-old  former Nigerian finance minister takes the helm after the WTO was left adrift for seven months following the sudden departure of Brazilian diplomat Roberto Azevedo last August, a year ahead of schedule.

Following a lengthy selection process, development economist Okonjo-Iweala, who spent 25 years at the World Bank, was finally appointed by the WTO’s 164 members on February 15.

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From an initial eight candidates, she was the clear favourite among the last two standing in November. However, her appointment was delayed by former US President Donald Trump blocking her nomination.

The arrival of his successor Joe Biden made it possible for her to receive the consensus backing required to end the impasse.

Okonjo-Iweala has said she hopes that event will provide a venue for clinching various deals including cutting fisheries subsidies and reform of the WTO’s top appeals body which was paralysed by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s admin.

See the video below…