Okonjo-Iweala begins tenure as WTO DG today, calls for restructuring
The newly-elected Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has assumed office today.
Her tenure as the DG will end on August 31, 2025.
She assumed duty on Monday in Geneva, presiding over WTO’s General Council’s annual meeting.
The council chose the former Nigerian finance minister as the organisation’s seventh director general and the first African and woman to lead the WTO.
Ms. Okonjo-Iweala revealed her plans to work with other members of the organisation to restructure the global trade body.
“Some WTO rules and procedures also need to be revisited, including the procedure for appointing director general,” she noted in her acceptance speech.
The new WTO boss added that the trade body’s rulebook needed to reflect 21st-century realities such as e-commerce, the digital economy, and the pandemic.
The lengthy selection process ended up with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, who spent 25 years at the World Bank as she elected to lead the body by the WTO’s 164 members on February 15.
The council’s consensus made her appointment possible.
The process was hampered by the United States’ objection under former President Donald Trump, despite the approval of council members in October 2020.
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
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
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.”
Ibadan
Rehabilitation of Oyo schoolchildren, teachers our priority: Makinde
Mr Makinde commended the security personnel for the rescue of the pupils and teachers, who had been held captive since May 15.
States
Police arrest three suspected cultists in Abia
The police spokesperson, Maureen Chioma Chinaka, said the operation followed actionable intelligence about a planned cult gathering.
Heading 4
South African police arrest Zimbabwean Zandile Tshuma over murder of wife, daughters in UK
The police spokesperson said the suspect is expected to appear in court on Monday.
States
Tinubu lauds rescue of Oyo pupils, teachers; vows justice for victims
Mr Tinubu vowed to get justice for the victims, including the mathematics teacher, murdered while in captivity.
Ibadan
Oyo Abduction: Eight suspects arrested, several killed, presidency says
The presidential aide noted that the victims were rescued without any concessions to the perpetrators.
Education
Ondo varsity lecturers begin indefinite strike over unpaid salaries
The strike action commenced following the resolution reached at the union’s congress on Friday over the non-payment of May and June salaries.
