THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed robust support backing Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
President Muhammadu Buhari had on June 5th, 2020, nominated her as Nigeria’s candidate for the job.
In a statement by ECOWAS dated June 19, 2020 and signed by the President of ECOWAS, Mahamadou Issoufou, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Governments said it took the decision based on the authority of the Heads of State and Government of its member-nations.
The regional body said it took the position on account of excellent credentials of the Nigerian candidate and also that no African has been appointed as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation since its inception.
“Having acknowledged the strong academic and professional background of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and her very large experience in national affairs as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006) and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister briefly in 2006.
“Having further acknowledged her long years of academic experience at the top echelon of multilateral institutions, her established reputation as a fearless reformer, her excellent negotiating and political skills, her experience of over 30 years as a Development Economist with a long standing interest in trade, her excellent academic qualifications, her position as Managing Director, World Bank, and currently as Board Chair, Gavi, and African Union Special Envoy to mobilise financial resources for the fight against Covid-19.
“ECOWAS endorses the candidature of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealla for the position of Director General, World Trade Organisation for the period of 2021 to 2025, and calls on other non-African countries to endorse her candidature”, President Issoufou stated.
In the light of the development, Okonjo-Iweala also took to her official Twitter handle to register her gratitude to ECOWAS for backing her candidacy for the WTO top job.
“A big thank you to the Economic Community of West African States for supporting my candidacy for DG WTO,” she said.
