Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been reappointed as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), solidifying her leadership in global trade and development.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria has been reappointed as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
She is currently serving her second term, which will conclude on 31 August 2025.
She was initially appointed as the Director-General of the WTO on February 15, 2021.
Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and African to lead the WTO, was effectively guaranteed a second term as she was the sole candidate in contention.
The WTO announced in a statement that the organization’s 166 members “agreed today to grant incumbent Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala a second term as director-general.”
The 70-year-old Nigerian’s reappointment was unanimously approved at a special closed-door meeting of the organization’s General Council, according to the WTO.
Her current term concludes in August 2025, and the appointment process for the following mandate was initially expected to take several months.
With Okonjo-Iweala being the sole candidate, African nations urged for an expedited process to officially prepare for the WTO’s next significant ministerial conference scheduled in Cameroon in 2026.
Since assuming leadership of the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala has endeavored to revitalize the fragile organization by emphasizing renewed attention on issues such as climate change and health.
Breaking News: The General Council has reappointed Director-General @NOIweala for a second term, starting on September 1, 2025. Stay tuned for more details. pic.twitter.com/JSqC4RDZ8o
READ ALSO:Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Seeks Second Term as Sole Candidate for WTO Director-General
— World Trade Organization (@wto) November 29, 2024
“I’m truly honored.”
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, X (formerly known as Twitter): @NOIweala
After her reappointment, a delighted Okonjo-Iweala expressed that she felt “honored” and considered the decision a “privilege.”
“I am truly honored by the trust and support of the WTO General Council and its 166 Members. It is a privilege to continue serving as Director-General for another four-year term,” she expressed in a statement on the organization’s website.
“As we look to the future, I am dedicated to achieving meaningful outcomes that enhance lives globally. By advocating for trade as a catalyst for economic growth and resilience, the WTO will persist in offering a cooperative platform where Members can tackle common global issues,” stated the former Nigerian finance minister.
I am wholeheartedly dedicated to collaborating with the skilled and devoted staff of the WTO to develop a multilateral trading system that is more inclusive, equitable, and rules-based for everyone’s benefit.
Okonjo-Iweala held the position of Nigeria’s finance minister on two occasions, from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2011 to 2015. Additionally, she was the country’s first female foreign minister for a brief period in 2006.
