By Anya C. Anya
The aspiration of Nigerian Ex- Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala to lead the World Trade Organization has continued to gather wide spread support and Endorsement . As one of Nigeria’ s foremost online newspaper has considered her fit, suitable and qualified for the job .
The Chief Editor of AFNEWS Mr. Emenike Iroegbu considered her to be the most qualified and suitable for the Director General of World Trade Organization. He made his opinion known in an interactive session with Mr. Kelechi Imo while anchoring AFNEWS Newspaper review on 18th August 2020 .
This is one among the numerous endorsement and support so far gathered by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala who was Nigeria’s former Coordinating Minister for the Economy under President Goodluck Jonathan.Mr Emenike Iroegbu believes Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has all that it will take for her to be appointed as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) when you consider the endorsements she got from President Muhammadu Buhari , National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) and Economic Community for the West African States .
The other candidates are Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh (Egypt), Amina Mohamed (Kenya), Jesús Kuri (Mexico), Tudor Ulianovschi (Moldova), Yoo Myung-hee (Korea), Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri (Saudi Arabia), and Liam Fox (UK).but irrespective of their pedigree Dr. Ngozi Okejo Iweala stands out as a remarkable.
She is a bundle of talents’ Contrary to the allegation that she is more of a public sector and WTO needs leadership and it needs someone able to bring a bundle of qualities – political ability and ability to reach decision-makers. International contacts. Managerial capability among others.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala had while speaking said “So, I’m a doer. I’m solution-oriented and pragmatic. I bring together the bundle of qualities and the leadership acumen that you need to lead this. So, I would hope that if anyone is selected from the African continent, it should be me, I am a strong believer in the role of trade and of the MTS to lift millions out of poverty and bring shared prosperity. Throughout my career as a development economist at the World Bank, I worked on tough economic policy reforms including trade policy in middle and low-income countries. As a two time and longest-serving Finance Minister in my country, I had the Customs Service reporting to me, so issues of trade facilitation and trade policy were squarely part of my remit. Together with the Trade Minister, I also worked on regional trade issues including the ECOWAS Common External Tariffs.”
“I can bring a fresh pair of eyes to the WTO’s challenges. Enhancing and renewing the organization will require recalling the core objectives and principles on which the MTS was built – the value of open trade, competition and non-discrimination, security and predictability of market access, fair trade and transparency. These principles contribute to economic growth and development. I have seen how essential and powerful trade can be in promoting not only economic growth and development but also, with the right incentives and policies, fostering inclusiveness of women and youth involved in entrepreneurial activities through micro, small and middle-sized enterprises.”
Many of this and more were considered and discussed at the AFNEWS Newspaper review today and after considering every available facts AFNEWS adopted and endorse the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.
