WTO Job: We Can’t Think Of Better Candidate Than Okonjo-Iweala, Nigerian Law Students Tell U.S. Ambassador

The Law Students’ Association of Nigeria has written to the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, to register its displeasure over America’s opposition to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s bid to become the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). 

This came after the U.S. announced last week Wednesday that it was rooting for South Korean Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee, against the majority of 164 member countries backing Okonjo-Iweala for the WTO job. 

The association called on the U.S. to reconsider its position on the former Nigerian finance minister, saying “we cannot think of a better combination of qualities for a Director-General of the World Trade Organisation” than Okonjo-Iweala. 

The association wrote to the U.S. through its national president, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere. It copied Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the country’s Ambassador to the U.S., Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor,

The letter partly reads: “Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, though of African descent, is a world citizen who has distinguished herself as an economist, financial expert and ambassador of international diplomacy. She (a two term finance minister of Nigeria) nursed her career in the World Bank as a development economist for about 21 years, and rose to become its Managing Director. As managing director, she oversaw the World Bank’s $81 Billion operational portfolio in Africa, South Asia, Central Asia and Europe. 

“Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala had spearheaded several World Bank initiatives. In 2008, she coordinated the initiative to curb food and financial crises in low income countries around the world, and in 2010, she was chair of the World Bank’s successful drive to raise $49.3 Billion in grants and low interest credit for the poorest countries in the world. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has served in various capacities to help many countries, development agencies and businesses grow.

“Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has shown a great deal of enthusiasm for her work and has taken up responsibilities above and beyond what any position she has occupied required. Above all, her intellect is keen, her breadth of knowledge is impressive and her commitment to service deep. We cannot think of a better combination of qualities for a Director General of the World Trade Organization.

“Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is uniquely and eminently qualified for the World Trade Organization top job, and we solicit the United States of America to support her nomination for the job.

“Knowing that the United States of America is a model for world democracy, we also want to state that we are keenly following the presidential election process, and we join our Nation and other democratic Nations and Institutions, and the people of the United States to pray for peaceful, free and fair elections in your country.”