The newly appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Monday appreciated the Nigerians both home and in diaspora for their support in securing the seat.
Okonjo-Iweala gave the appreciation message when she visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was received by delegates led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.
The WTO DG applauded the Minister for his role in contributing to her success in her race for the WTO DG seat.
“You worked night and day along with the Ministry of Trade and Investment and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. You worked personally to make sure that this happens. I remember calling you so many nights with one complaint or the other or one demand or the other and you kept your cool and were always trying to sort it all out.
“In short, you were absolutely amazing and I want to thank you for your personal attention to this,” she said.
Okonjo-Iweala also appreciated young Nigerians who she said were always on social media cheering her on.
According to her, this was a crucial encouragement in the ‘tough race’.
“I say it and I will not stop saying it – without all of you and without support from ordinary Nigerians, especially the young people who were always on social media all the time encouraging me, I wouldn’t have been able to make it because it was a very tough competition with eight of us at the start, over a period of six months – very grueling – so it needed a lot of encouragement.
“It’s a proud thing that Nigeria has been able to make it. I am honoured and humbled to have been selected,” Okonjo-Iweala said in her appreciation message.
Recall that Okonjo-Iweala recently emerged as the DG of WTO at a special meeting of the General Council, following a selection process that included eight candidates from around the world.
She was nominated as Nigeria’s candidate to lead the WTO by President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2020.
Okonjo-Iweala officially resumed the office as DG of WTO March 1, 2021.