Nigeria’s former minister of finance and coordinating minister for the economy Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is seeking a second term as director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
“We can confirm that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has officially announced her intention to seek a second term as Director-General of the WTO,” her spokesman Ismaila Dieng said in a statement on Monday.
In 2021, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala made history as the first woman and first African to head the WTO.
Her current term at the helm of the 166-member WTO ends on August 31, 2025.
Mr Dieng said the 70-year-old had taken into account “the overwhelming and broad-based support expressed by members”.
Her decision to seek another term was officially communicated to WTO chair Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg on Monday.
The WTO’s African Group formally requested that she make herself available for a second term at that same meeting, and proposed that the process to re-nominate her should begin as soon as possible.
No other candidates have come forward to challenge her for the position as of press time.
Okonjo-Iweala hinged her leadership on breathing new life into the organisation.
