Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed as the first female and first African head of World Trade Organization, WTO.
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala is now succeeding the Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, who left the WTO before the end of his term in August.
Recall that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala had become the lone candidate for the job, following the stepping down of another contender, Korean Minister last week.
Making the announcement on Monday via its Twitter handle, the WTO said: “Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director-General.
“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO. Her term starts on the 1st of March 2021.
“WTO members took the decision to appoint @NOIweala at a special meeting of the General Council, following a selection process that included eight candidates from around the world #WTODG.”
