Okonjo-Iweala secures second term as WTO DG

Onome Amuge

The General Council of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has extended the tenure of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reappointing her as director-general for a second term.

Okonjo-Iweala was originally elected to the post in February 2021, with her current stint slated to expire on August 31, 2025. The WTO General Council’s decision paves the way for her new four-year term to commence on  September 1, 2025.

Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and the first African to head the WTO was the only candidate in the race and has been assured a second term. This is as the organisation’s 166 members unanimously agreed to give the  director-general a second term in office. 

Okonjo-Iweala’s second term as WTO director-general was unanimously approved during a closed-door session of the organisation’s general council, confirming the 70 year old Nigerian economic veteran’s position for another four years.

Okonjo-Iweala’s current term was slated to wind down in August 2025, with a months-long appointment process typically required to fill the top WTO seat for the next mandate.

However, with Okonjo-Iweala standing alone as the sole candidate, African countries united in a call for the process to be fast-tracked, citing the forthcoming WTO ministerial conference in Cameroon in 2026 as the impetus for the expedited timeline.

Okonjo-Iweala, in a statement issued by the WTO on Friday,  expressed gratitude to the organisation’s 166 member nations for their continued trust and support.

“I am deeply honoured by the trust and support of the WTO General Council and its 166 Members. It is a privilege to continue serving as Director-General for a second four-year term,” she said.

Reflecting on her first term at the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala emphasised the significance of the organisation’s leadership in tackling the multitude of global challenges that have disrupted the world’s social and economic landscape, such as the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, and geopolitical tensions.

“In recent years, the WTO has played a vital role in helping members address pressing global challenges, including the pandemic, conflict, and heightened geopolitical tensions. I commend Members for their hard work and determination in achieving progress despite unprecedented levels of uncertainty and rapid economic shifts,” the WTO DG remarked.

Okonjo-Iweala pledged to maintain her advocacy for trade as a potent force for economic expansion, while reinforcing the pillars of the multilateral trading system,positioning global commerce as a crucial engine for sustainable growth.