When she takes office on 1 March
, Dr Okonjo-Iweala will become the first woman and the first African to be chosen as Director-General. Her term, renewable, will expire on 31 August 2025.
“This is a very significant moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO s next Director-General and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting,” said General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand who, together with co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund (Iceland) led the nine-month DG selection process.
“Dr Ngozi, on behalf of all members I wish to sincerely thank you for your graciousness in these exceptional months, and for your patience. We look forward to collaborating closely with you, Dr Ngozi, and I am certain that all members will work with you constructively during your tenure as Director-General to shape the future of
Roberto Azevedo who surprisingly stepped down from the position in August of 2020. She has become the first woman and the first African to occupy the office. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director-General. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO. Her term starts on the 1st of March 2021, the WTO announced in a tweet. The 164-member WTO took the decision at a special meeting of the General Council, following a selection process that included eight candidates from around the world. Okonjo-Iweala s pathway to the WTO throne was cleared in the first week of February 2021 after her only opponent in the race withdrew; and after the
History was made by WTO members today (15 February), when the General Council agreed by consensus to select Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the organization’s seventh Director-General.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala upon assuming office 1st of March, will become the first woman and the first African to be confirmed WTO’s Director-General. Her term, though renewable, will expire on 31 August 2025.
General Council Chair, New Zealand’s David Walker who, together with co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund (Iceland), stated that “It is no doubt and important moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next Director-General and with that, formally welcome her to this General Council meeting.
New WTO DG, Okonjo-Iweala, Lists Priorities as She Assumes Office March 1 thisdaylive.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thisdaylive.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
“This is a very significant moment for the WTO,” said General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand who, together with co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund (Iceland) led the nine-month DG selection process.