Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala edges out S/Korea’s Myung-hee to become WTO DG

NGOZI Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s nominee for the office of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, has emerged winner of the highly competitive race.

It was gathered that the former minister polled 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat her South Korea’s trade minister’s, Yoo Myung-hee, opponent, in the final stage of a fiercely contested race .

The WTO General Council is expected to formally inform the two competing countries via their respective Ambassadors to Switzerland today.

This is following the decisive and historic victory of Nigeria’s former finance minister and a former managing director of the World Bank, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General(DG) designate of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Nigeria’s president Buhari and his South Korea’s counterpart, President Moon Jae-In are expected to be briefed on the outcome of yesterday’s final round of voting and consultations by their respective envoys to Switzerland and the United Nations Offices in Geneva including WTO.

Okonjo-Iweala, who has broken many records before now, will add becoming the first African to occupy that office at the WTO to her already intimidating credentials.