Trade Nigeria alongside two federal ministries are working towards the realization of the Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s ambition to become the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization WTO.
With ECOWAS already endorsing her ambition, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment alongside Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Nigeria are joining forces to raise fund as well as provide all necessary support to see that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s ambition pulls through.
A two-time Minister of Finance in Nigeria, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is also a former Managing Director, Operations, World Bank and she said that heading World Trade Organization, is an opportunity to serve all nations of the world.
In an interview with the BBC, she said she believes WTO needs some reforms that will make it relevant in modern day bilateral trade, adding that with her reputation as a reformer, she is the right person for the job’
“I want the job because I think I have the skills for it. I think the organization needs some reforms to make it relevant for times we are in and I have a reputation as a strong reformer. I have actually written a book titled ‘Reforming the Reformable,’ where we undertook certain reforms with a team in Nigeria. I am also a person with strong negotiation skills. I have a career of over 30 years for constantly been involved in negotiating an important agreement between countries.”
Speaking to www.otowngist.com, the president of Trade Nigeria, Hon. Nwabueze Buchi George who attended the meeting with the ministries, said supporting Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s ambition is worth it and something more nations of the world should take seriously.
He added that she has a reputation that has made her work as a member of the South African Presidential Economic Advisory Council and other organizations where she has championed various economic reforms.
“Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is not just a Nigerian or an African, she belongs to the entire world and that is where she should be.
“With what she has done and coming from the background of trade and investment, I understand the role of bilateral trade in the development economies and I also understands what we have and don’t have around the world at moment”
“Can she do it? Yes she can. Should we support her? Yes and that is what we are doing at the moment to see she doesn’t lack anything from now till the time of voting. It was a productive meeting and we will keep moving with the plans”, Buchi George said.
No African has previously headed World Trade Organization and should Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala win, she will be the first African in that seat.
