Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Okonjo-Iweala now only candidate as Korean minister withdraws from WTO race

Yoo Myung-hee’s withdrawal has all but guaranteed the former Nigerian finance minister’s victory for the top job at the multilateral institution.

• February 5, 2021
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Credit: Twitter)
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Credit: Twitter)

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has become the only candidate left in the race to land the director-general of the World Trade Organisation, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

Bloomberg said Korean foreign minister Yoo Myung-hee pulled out of the race on Friday morning, saying there was a talk with the United States that agreed that there was a need to “comprehensively” revitalise the world trade body.

Her withdrawal now leaves Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister, as the only candidate left for the job. Her emergency was blocked last year when former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration expressed its opposition.

But President Joe Biden has now been reported to be satisfied with the leadership of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, who also carries an American passport.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Waidi Shaibu

Abuja

COAS inaugurates 114 housing units for troops in Abuja

Mr Lar said quality accommodation would boost morale, strengthen operational readiness and improve the wellbeing of personnel and their families.

CBN governor, Yemi Cardoso and Femi Gbajabiamila

Anti-Corruption

CBN opened domiciliary accounts for Gbajabiamila-linked PFIPC on accountant-general’s order before N400 million bribe probe: Cardoso

The presidency had dismissed the PFIPC agency as fake after Mr Adeyemi accused Mr Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff, of collecting a N400 million bribe.

Heading 1

Two Nigerians convicted, jailed for seven years over armed robbery in Kuwait

The police said the two individuals stole foreign currencies equivalent to 4,600 Kuwaiti Dinars, valued at approximately $14,918.69.

Flooded Lagos Island

Lagos

Lagos govt seeks science-backed solutions to climate, coastal risks

The Lagos government has urged scientists to provide evidence-based solutions to tackle climate change and strengthen resilience in coastal cities.