Nigeria’s former Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been elected Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). She becomes the first African to head the WTO.
She polled 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat South Korea’s Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee in the final two-man race.
The organisation is expected to announce her as the new DG by 3pm Nigerian time.
Okonjo-Iweala had been backed by France, Germany, Spain, Italy and The Netherlands among others, boosting her frontrunner status.
Ambassadors from the EU’s 27 member states, Monday, announced their decision to back the Nigeria’s nominee for the plum job, following discussions among EU leaders at a summit in Brussels last week.
The WTO DG position became vacant following the unexpected early resignation of Roberto Azevêdo, a Brazilian who had held the job since 2013. He stepped down in September.