JUST IN: ‘This Is A Very Significant Moment For WTO’ – Council Welcomes New DG, Okonjo-Iweala

The announcement of Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been welcomed by the General Council of the organization.

The General Council Chair, David Walker, said in a statement published on the WTO’s website that she was taking up the top job at a very significant moment in history of the organization.

“This is a very significant moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next Director-General and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting,” he said on Monday.

Okonjo-Iweala, whose term begins on March 1, has broken limit as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO.

Walker also assured her that the entire WTO team would give her the needed cooperation.

“Dr Ngozi, on behalf of all members I wish to sincerely thank you for your graciousness in these exceptional months, and for your patience. We look forward to collaborating closely with you, Dr Ngozi, and I am certain that all members will work with you constructively during your tenure as Director-General to shape the future of this organization,” he added.

On her part, she promised the world that her leadership of WTO will “get the global economy going again”.