Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria has been reappointed to a second term as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The WTO made this announcement in a post on X on Friday.
The reappointment will go into effect on September 1, 2025, according to the WTO General Council.
The Council emphasized that the decision demonstrates widespread acknowledgment of Okonjo-Iweala’s outstanding leadership and strategic vision for the WTO’s future, stating that it unanimously decided to re-appoint her as DG for a second four-year term.
It went on to say that Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, who is the Chair of the General Council, was in charge of the reappointment process, which was started on October 8, 2024.
“With no additional nominations submitted by the November 8 deadline, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala stood as the sole candidate. The process was conducted in a fully open and transparent manner, adhering to the WTO’s ‘Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General’ (WT/L/509).
“During a special General Council meeting on November 28-29, 2024, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala outlined her forward-looking vision for the WTO. Following her presentation and a Q&A session with members, the Council formally endorsed her reappointment by consensus.”
“The General Council commends Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for her outstanding leadership during her first term. Amid significant global economic challenges, she strengthened the WTO’s ability to support its members and set a forward-looking agenda for the organization. Her leadership was instrumental in securing meaningful outcomes at pivotal moments, including the 12th and 13th Ministerial Conferences (MC12 and MC13), where major milestones were achieved.”
Notes that Okonjo-Iweala became the first African and woman to oversee the World Trade Organization when she took office as Director-General on March 1, 2021.
The last day of her first term is August 31, 2025.
