The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Katagum has explained why Heads of State Delegations to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to endorse Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the strength of her antecedents, competence and statement to the General Council.
The second phase of consultation for the appointment of a new WTO Director-General was concluded on 6th October with the third and final round now underway. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is widely favoured to clinch the top job.
In a statement issued, in her capacity as Chairperson of the Okonjo-Iweala Campaign Team, Ambassador Katagum charged Heads of Delegations to read again, the statement of intent and agenda submitted by Dr Okonjo-Iweala, describing the former Nigerian Minister of Finance as “the best choice for the job”.
She commended the series of endorsements of Dr Iweala’s candidacy from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the European Union (EU) as “an excellent testimony of her eminent qualification for the top job”, adding that ” the WTO of today needs a DG with multiple skills to revive the challenged spirit of trade liberalisation world wide”.
” The WTO faces a lot of problems currently. Confronting these challenges necessarily requires building trust among the membership especially as the problems are not solely of a technical nature. Only a DG with the requisite political and negotiating skills coupled with multilateral experience can ensure deep engagement of the Members in order to restore trust and build a truly efficient organisation. Dr Iweala is the right fit”, she said.
