Nigerians have sent a deluge of congratulatory messages to Nigeria’s former minister of finance and coordinating minister for the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the first Nigerian, first African and first woman to head the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
Okonjo-Iweala was elected to the post at an extraordinary virtual meeting of the general council, WTO’s highest-level decision-making body, on Monday, replacing Brazil’s Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo.
The senate president, Mr. Ahmad Lawan in his congratulatory message issued by his media aide, Mr. Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja said he “heartily” rejoiced with “Dr Okonjo-Iweala on this well-deserved victory.”
“With her latest feat, the former Nigerian minister of finance and managing director of the World Bank, has again brought honour to Nigeria, Africa and women everywhere,” he said.
Lawan urged the new director general to deploy her intellect, experience, energy and integrity in leading the WTO to promote global prosperity through fair trade.
According to Lawan, Okonjo-Iweala’s task “has been made even more onerous by the havoc that the COVID-19 had wrecked on economies across the world.”
He prayed God to imbue her with good health and wisdom to succeed in the task.
Lawan also applauded the quiet but dogged diplomacy of the federal government that ensured her emergence.
He said that had contributed to the acknowledgement of the sterling credentials of Okonjo-Iweala and her ultimate triumph in the prolonged contest for the very important position.
Similarly, a former deputy senate president, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, described the emergence of Okonjo-Iweala as “historic and momentous’’.
“I join the rest of the world to congratulate our sister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on her well deserved emergence as the DG of the WTO.
“This is a historic and momentous achievement, not only for Nigeria, but also for the entire Africa.
“No doubt she has the poise, experience, flair, pedigree, reach, and global acceptance to excel in her new office.
“With her emergence, the much needed transformation and democratisation of the WTO to play its expected role in the 21st century global economy is imminent,” Ekweremadu said in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Uche Anichukwu.
Similarly, speaker of the house of representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and the minority caucus in the house also congratulated Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment.
Gbajabiamila, in a statement issued his special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Lanre Lasisi, said Okonjo-Iweala’s unanimous confirmation by the general council of the WTO to head the body is a testament to her years of experience in the financial sector both at home and abroad.
The Speaker, in the statement entitled, ‘Gbajabiamila congratulates Okonjo-Iweala on emergence as WTO DG,’ noted that the former two-time minister of finance in Nigeria comes to the office with a wealth of experience that spans several decades, stressing that her track record speaks volumes.
Gbajabiamila said with Okonjo-Iweala’s pedigree, he believes that she would take the WTO to enviable heights during her term as the DG. He stated that her confirmation had once again proved that Nigeria has experts that can compete favourably both at home and abroad.
The speaker said as the first female and first African to head the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala comes to the office at the right time.
The minority leader, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, in a separate statement en titled, ‘Reps minority caucus hails Okonjo-Iweala on emergence as WTO DG,’ said her emergence “has reinforced global confidence in international consensus and recognition of competence and proficiency over provincial considerations.”
“Indeed, the election of Dr Okonjo-Iweala to head the WTO is well-deserving, given her wealth of experience, competence, commitment and track record of performance in global finance and economy as evinced in her successes as Nigeria’s minister of finance, Managing Director of the World Bank and various other international development bodies.
“We commend the global community for having confidence in Dr Okonjo Iweala and particularly, the United States President, His Excellency Joe Biden, for the unwavering support given to her by his administration, which is clearly in recognition of Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s competence.
“In the same vein our caucus commends the understanding and spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by the South Korean trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee in withdrawing from the race; another loud testament to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s suitability for the task ahead,” the caucus said.
The lawmakers charged the director general to hit the ground running and bring to bear, her skills, connections and wealth of experience “at this trying period in the history of global economy.”
The caucus, however, urged Okonjo-Iweala to have a special focus on Africa and the developing world, “particularly at this time of economic recession, which has been worsened by the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Similarly, China and Brazil have also felicitated with the WTO director general on her appointment.
“China has full confidence in Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment as the WTO director-general,” the ministry of commerce said in a statement.
On the same note, the Brazilian government also congratulated Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment and called for strengthening the organisation and the multilateral trading system.
The new director-general “possesses the combination of political leadership and technical capacity that are fundamental to address the challenges facing the WTO and the multilateral trading system today,” the Brazilian foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.
“For Brazil, the WTO continues to be the fundamental basis of the multilateral trading system,” the ministry added.
Brazil’s government said it “is willing to collaborate with Okonjo-Iweala to strengthen the WTO in its mission to promote free trade among market economies.”
It also seeks to “spur the reforms necessary to the organisation’s three pillars: negotiation, dispute resolution and transparency, and ensure realistic and ambitious results at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in 2021, especially in agriculture,” said the ministry.
“Brazil will continue working for a multilateral trade system with rules that favour economic prosperity and the generation of income and jobs for Brazilians,” the ministry added.
For her part, Okonjo-Iweala said she was honoured for being the first woman and first African to lead the organisation and thanked members for “finalizing my election today.”
The director general who took to her official tweeter handle @NOIweala, wrote: “It is done! Thank you @WTO members for finalizing my election today and making history. In the 73 years of GATT and WTO, honored to be First Woman and First African to lead. But now the real work begins. Ready to tackle the challenges of WTO. Forget Business as usual!
