Okonjo-Iweala Unopposed for WTO Re-Election

Okonjo-Iweala, who took office as the first woman and first African to lead the WTO on February 15, 2021, expressed her willingness to continue serving in a letter dated September 16.

Geneva, Switzerland – Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been confirmed as the only nominee for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), solidifying her path to a second term.

With no further nominations received by the deadline, Okonjo-Iweala is now the sole candidate for the WTO’s top leadership position, the organization announced on Saturday.

“Nominations for Director-General closed; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala confirmed as sole candidate,” read the statement from the WTO. Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, who serves as Chair of the WTO General Council, informed members on November 9 that the nomination window had closed on November 8 with no additional contenders.

Okonjo-Iweala, who took office as the first woman and first African to lead the WTO on February 15, 2021, expressed her willingness to continue serving in a letter dated September 16. The formal process to appoint the next Director-General began on October 8, giving members until November 8 to present nominations.

The WTO said the General Council Chair would soon outline the next steps in the appointment process, which will follow the established “Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General.”

Okonjo-Iweala’s current term is set to conclude on August 31, 2025. During her tenure, she has prioritized critical issues such as finalizing long-stalled trade talks on fishery subsidies and reviving the WTO’s Appellate Body. Her leadership has been hailed as transformative, as she continues to champion reforms within the trade body.

The former Nigerian finance minister previously served twice in that role (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and held a brief stint as Nigeria’s foreign minister in 2006, making history as the country’s first female foreign minister. Despite initial skepticism about her background lacking in trade negotiations, Okonjo-Iweala has proven to be a formidable leader, breaking barriers and setting a precedent for African representation on the global stage.