English translation of an archived publication. The roles, rules and references cited reflect its original publication date.
Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, one of Nigeria’s most powerful women, was appointed Director-General of the WTO on 15 February by representatives of its 164 member countries.
Twice Nigeria’s Finance Minister and also its Foreign Minister, she will furthermore be the first leader from Africa.
Her priority will be to address the economic and health consequences of the COVID-19 #pandemic, for example by lifting restrictions on exports of medical supplies and #vaccines, or by encouraging vaccine production in more countries.
Another priority will be to bring the organisation out of the inertia in which it has been mired for several years.
The WTO is indeed emerging from a difficult period marked by repeated obstruction from the Trump administration against a backdrop of economic conflict between Washington and Beijing.
Ms Okonjo-Iweala acknowledges feeling additional pressure as the first woman and first African to hold this position, in which expectations of her will undoubtedly be high.
We wish her every success in her new role!
Photo credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP