Connected Development (CODE), a Non-Governmental Organisation on Monday declared its support for Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian Finance Minister as Director-General for the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Mr Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive of CODE and Founder of Follow The Money, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja.
Lawal said that its support for Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination by respective governments for position of WTO Director-General among seven other candidates was based on her capability to creatively steer the affairs of the organisation.
According to him, the support is based on understanding of Okonjo-Iweala’s sound judgment, remarkable skills in navigating difficult institutions in national affairs, motherly and cerebral style of problem-solving.
Lawal said, “Okonjo-Iweala represents what WTO needs at this moment; the international body is actually staging a contest to replace outgoing Director-General Roberto Azevedo, who is stepping down a year early.
“The new WTO leader will be taking on an institution beset with huge challenges even before the pandemic-driven global economic crisis struck.
“As the global community now struggles to recover from COVID-19, the role of free and fair trade will be very crucial to the world’s recovery.
“The two-time Nigerian Minister of Finance has bagged the experience of pushing a troubled developing country from the doldrums of economic mismanagement to the high pedestal of continental superstardom.
“It was under Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership that Nigeria became the biggest economy in Africa.”
He described Okonjo-Iweala as a builder whose cognate experience, knowledge and networks in Africa’s economy, World Bank, Twitter and GAVI, positioned her to lead the WTO at a time like this.
Lawal noted that, moreso, Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence as Director-General would be exemplary for women to duly occupy positions of leadership, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on gender equality before 2030.
He explained that his first encounter with Okonjo-Iweala was in 2019, at the invitation of to meet the American entrepreneur, Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and CEO of Twitter, during his visit to Nigeria.
Furthermore, he said that her educational background, work experience and track record of accomplishment were testimonials of her suitability for the job.
Other candidates contesting with Okonjo-Iweala are Dr Jesus Seade Kuri (Mexico), Me Abdel-Hamid Mamduoh (Egypt), Mr Tudor Ulianovschi (Moldova) and Ms Yoo Myung-hee (Republic of Korea).
Also in the race are Ms Amina Mohamed (Kenya), Mr Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri (Kingdom of South Arabia) and Dr Liam Fox (United Kingdom).
WTO deals with the global rules of trade between nations and to ensure that trade flows smoothly, predictably and as freely as possible.
Lawal was recently appointed into the prestigious Malala Fund Global Education Champion, working to accelerate progress to get girls’ back to school in Northern Nigeria.
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