Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian finance minister, has been confirmed as the sole candidate for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General role, setting her on course for a second term.
The WTO announced this on Saturday, noting that the nomination deadline passed on 8 November without additional candidates.
Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council, informed WTO members that Okonjo-Iweala, who initially took office in February 2021, confirmed her willingness to continue in the position through a letter sent in September.
Her current term is scheduled to end on 31 August 2025.
Since her appointment, Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO’s first female and African leader, has focused on advancing stalled trade discussions on fishery subsidies and reviving the WTO’s Appellate Body.
Known as a trailblazer in Nigeria, Okonjo-Iweala previously served as finance minister twice and briefly as the country’s foreign minister.
