Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been reappointed as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a second term, effective September 1, 2025. Her reappointment, came on the back of a consensus among all 166 member states, reaffirming her global acceptance and recognition as a leader in trade and economics.
Okonjo-Iweala made history in 2021 when she became the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO. This wasn’t without significant opposition and huddles, including opposition from the Trump administration in the United States, which preferred another candidate. This impasse delayed her confirmation until February 2021, after President Joe Biden’s administration endorsed her candidacy. Her leadership has since been credited with steering the WTO through complex trade issues, particularly amid global economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her tweet following her reappointment, Okonjo-Iweala expressed gratitude, saying, “Today, it is with humility and a great sense of honour that I thank each and every one of the 166 WTO members for the consensus they achieved in supporting my reappointment! … This is an enormous responsibility, and I will redouble my efforts to deliver results and necessary reforms to address 21st-century challenges.” She also thanked her family, colleagues, and supporters from around the world for their encouragement and congratulatory messages.
Okonjo-Iweala previously served Nigeria as the Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2006 under President Olusegun Obasanjo and again from 2011 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan. She also briefly held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2006, making her the first woman to occupy that role. During her tenure, she was instrumental in negotiating Nigeria’s historic debt relief deal with the Paris Club, which saved the country billions of dollars and earned her international acclaim.
Her reappointment has been met with widespread celebration. Former Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi tweeted, “I am sincerely delighted at the reappointment of my very dear elder sister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the WTO Director-General for a second term.”
As she begins preparations for her second term, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala remains committed to pushing for much-needed reforms to make the WTO more agile and responsive to 21st-century global challenges. Her leadership is seen as a beacon of hope for strengthening multilateral trade systems and advancing economic inclusivity worldwide.
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