News
WTO: US declares support for Okonjo-Iweala
The United States government on Friday declared its “strong support” for Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to lead the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The US Trade Representative in a statement confirming President Joe Biden administration’s support for the Nigerian candidate, said the former World Bank’s managing director has a “wealth of knowledge in economics and international diplomacy.”
“She had proven experience managing a large international organization,” the statement added.
Former President Donald Trump’s administration had last year rejected Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination for the WTO’s top job and declared its support for her South Korean rival, Yoo Myung-hee.
READ ALSO: Coast clear for Okonjo-Iweala to get WTO job, as South Korea withdraws candidate
However, the South Korean Trade Minister withdrew from the race on Friday, leaving the Nigerian as the sole candidate for the position which became vacant in August last year after Brazilian diplomat, Roberto Avezedo, stepped down from the seat.
The African Union, the European Union, and several countries in America had earlier endorsed Okonjo-Iweala for the WTO’s director-general’s position.
She heads the GAVI vaccine alliance and serves as special envoy for the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 campaign.
Okonjo-Iweala was two-time Minister of Finance in Nigeria under ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...