By Yusuf Adua
Today, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has scheduled a special meeting of its General Council where Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is expected to be formally announced as the Director-General.
According to a notification got by News Live Nigeria correspondent, the point of order of today’s meeting is to, “consider the appointment of the next WTO Director-General.”
It should be noted that the United State government gave its formal approval to the emergence of Ikonjo-Iweala as the next Director-General, thereby removing the final obstacle to her bid to be the first woman and the first African to head the Geneva-based international trade body.
Okonjo-Iweala, who last October secured the vote of 163 of the 164 members of the trade organization, could not be declared the head of the WTO because the organisation’s selection rules stipulate that its DG has to emerge by consensus.
South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee, backed by the US, was Okonjo-Iweala’s sole opponent after other contestants withdrew from the race last year.
She had recently announced her withdrawal from the race, after discussions with the United States and other major nations.
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