Nigeria WTO Chief Okonjo-Iweala Faces No Opposition in Bid for Second Term

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first African and female Director-General of the World Trade Organization, is uncontested for a second term. The WTO chair confirmed no other nominations were received, leaving her as the sole candidate. Her first term focused on revitalizing the global trade body.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first African and female Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), is running for a second term without any opposition. On November 9, 2024, the WTO's chair, Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg, announced that no other nominations had been received by the deadline, confirming Okonjo-Iweala as the sole candidate.

Okonjo-Iweala, 70, who began her first term in March 2021, has garnered support for her efforts to reform and reinvigorate the WTO, an organization that has faced challenges in recent years. Her first appointment was delayed when former U.S. President Donald Trump blocked her nomination in favor of a South Korean candidate, but the decision was reversed after Joe Biden took office in 2021.

The WTO's 166 member countries choose the Director-General by consensus, and Okonjo-Iweala’s reappointment seems assured, as no other candidates were put forward. Her leadership has focused on improving global trade relations, promoting fairer trade practices, and strengthening the WTO’s role in addressing global economic issues.

Okonjo-Iweala's current term will end in August 2025, and with no opposition to her second-term bid, she is set to continue guiding the organization in a period of significant global trade challenges.