Opinion: Now that the WTO Has Accepted Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s Nomination, By Adedapo Adamolekun
Considering the eminent qualification and robust of mettle of Nigeria’s nominee for the WTO top job, it is evident that the noble objective of the African Union to create a single continental market, through AfCFTA, for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments will receive a great boost with a purpose-driven leadership at the World Trade Organisation…
Before pundits will restart another media spar on the correctness or otherwise of the WTO’s acceptance of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy, let’s see what the WTO Procedures say regarding the nomination process.
It is imperative to understand that nowhere in the Procedures is it required that WTO member countries needed to first go through any regional bloc to submit nominations; or seek the endorsement of individual member countries to put out candidates for the position of the Organisation’s director-general. It then beggars the question why it became an issue that Nigeria had risked the displeasure of some countries by an ostensible tardy submission of Dr.
The success at GAVI sets the stage for the next challenge, AfCFTA, the most ambitious trade zone project in the world. The brilliance of the African Union heads of state requires a collective ambition matched with global clout and outstanding diplomatic skills. No other region has tried to weld 54 countries into a single market and eventually a full customs union. It also flies in the face of the waves of nationalism, protectionism and populism surging around the world.
Previously, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala twice served as Nigeria’s finance minister and briefly acted as foreign minister in 2006; the first woman to hold both positions. She distinguished herself by carrying out major reforms, which improved the effectiveness of these two ministries and the functioning of the government machinery. She had a 25-year career at the World Bank as a development economist, rising to the No. 2 position of managing director, Operations.
As minister of finance in Nigeria, she spearheaded negotiations with the Paris Club of Creditors that led to the wiping out of $30 billion of Nigeria’s debt, including the outright cancellation of $18 billion. In her second term as finance minister, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was responsible for leading reform that enhanced transparency of government accounts and strengthened institutions against corruption, including the implementation of the GIFMS , the IPPMS , and the TSA .
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