Ngozi Okonji-Iweala says she is humbled to have been declared the candidate with the largest and broadest support for the World Trade Organisation’s Director-General position.
Okonjo-Iweala, in a tweet on Thursday, said she is confident of emerging as the first African and woman to lead the crisis-ridden organisation despite opposition from the United States.
“Happy for the success and continued progress of our @wto DG bid,” she wrote.
“Very humbled to be declared the candidate with the largest, broadest support among members and most likely to attract consensus. We move on to the next step on November 9 despite hiccups. We’re keeping the positivity going!”
Okonjo-Iweala is favourite to succeed Brazilian diplomat, Roberto Avezedo, ahead of South Korean Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee.
The Havard-trained economist has the backing of 27 members of the European Union.
She also has the support of 55 members of the African Union.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has once again assured the former finance minister of its total support.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this known in a press statement on Thursday.
The statement signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, was titled, ‘Update on Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s aspiration to lead the World Trade Organisation’.
“Nigeria will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the lofty aspiration of her candidate to lead the World Trade Organisation is realised,” part of the statement read.
The ministry noted that the former Managing Director of the World Bank had secured the support of the majority of the WTO members with only the United States opposing her.
It stated that a meeting of the General Council of the WTO has been scheduled for November 9, 2020, for the final decision on the election process.
