Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala took office as World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, on 1 March. As the first female and first African in this position, she joins other Africans at the top of powerful multilateral organisations – Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus at the World Health Organisation, Dr Amina Mohammed at the United Nations and Makhtar Diop at the International Finance Corporation.
There’s a sense that this is Africa’s time at the WTO, and there are great expectations that Okonjo-Iweala will champion the continent’s interests. However, pushing this agenda at the WTO will require strong leadership from African countries rather than an African director-general.