Business

Okonjo-Iweala emerges first female DG of WTO

Former managing director of the World Bank, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has emerged as the first female Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Okonjo-Iweala emerged as the first African and the first female to attain the position of DG of WTO by defeating South Korea’s current trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee, in a fierce battle for the coveted job on Monday night.

It was gathered that it was the support of China that finally made way for the Nigeria former finance minister.

News report said the WTO’s Ambassador Walker’s led General Council, would officially announce the choice of Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Dr Okonjo-Iweala later on Tuesday.

Okonjo-Iweala, 66, served as Nigeria’s first female finance and later foreign minister, and has a 25-year career behind her as a development economist and international finance expert at the World Bank, eventually becoming its number two.

Pix: Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala