The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Monday endorsed the candidacy of Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General position.
President Muhammadu Buhari nominated the ex-minister for the WTO job last month.
Nominations for the position are expected to close on July 8 while the candidates will be invited to meet with WTO Council members at a special General Council meeting.
The Director-General of WTO, Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, will step down on August 31.
Nigerien, Mahamadou Issoufou confirmed ECOWAS endorsement of Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination in a statement issued on behalf of the Heads of State and Government of the sub-regional organization member nations.
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The statement read:
“ECOWAS leaders acknowledged the strong academic and professional background of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and her very large experience in national affairs as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister briefly in 2006.”
According to the statement, the ECOWAS leaders’ endorsement of Okonjo-Iweala’s candidature was conditioned upon her academic qualifications and over 30 years’ experience as a development economist.
They also called on other African and non-African States to support the former minister.
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