The African Union (AU) has reiterated its full support for Nigeria’s candidate for the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The Union disclosed this in a statement titled ‘Statement by AU Chairperson on the nomination of the new Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO)’ issued by its chairperson and the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.
According to the statement, the union commended the WTO member states for following an agreed fair, robust, and transparent process in the election of the next Director-General of the WTO. It maintained its trust the organization would follow due process to ensure that Dr Okonjo-Iweala emerges WTO DG.
The Nigerian government earlier reassured its commitment to ensuring that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emerges as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation ( WTO ), and promised to continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emerges
“This is because apart from winning the election, all the 164 Member States of WTO were expected to adopt the winner by consensus, in accordance with the rule of procedure of the WTO. It is important to highlight that Dr Okonjo-Iweala has secured cross-regional backing with only the United States opposing the consensus,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs