Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
A former Nigeria Finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will most likely be the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Her triumph should have come this year but it was delayed by the posturing of the outgoing Donald Trump administration that preferred Okonjo-Iweala’s South Korean opponent Yoo Myung-hee.
But Joe Biden’s administration is seen as supportive of the Nigerian’s ambition. This is within reason as Okonjo-Iweala has earned her praises in her own country and internationally for nearly two decades.
spearheaded several World Bank initiatives to assist low-income countries during both the food and later financial crisis. She has chaired the replenishment of over $40 billion for the International Development Association (IDA), the grant, and the soft credit arm of the World Bank.
Her achievements as Finance Minister garnered international recognition for improving Nigeria’s financial stability and fostering greater fiscal transparency to combat corruption. In October 2005, she led the Nigerian team that negotiated the cancellation of 60% of Nigeria’s external debt ($18 billion) with the Paris Club.
