Okonjo-Iweala secured the 87th position in the global Most Powerful Women list, surpassing South African businesswoman Mpumi Madisa, who holds the 88th spot.

The Tuesday-released ranking also featured Tanzanian President Samia Hassan at the 93rd position and Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu in the 98th spot.

Topping the global list is Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission for Impactful Policy and Budget.

Christine Lagarde, the European Central Bank President, secured the second position, while U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris claimed the third spot in the prestigious list of the world’s most powerful women for 2023.

WTO’s Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala  disclosed this while speaking virtually at the annual National Diaspora Day celebration in Abuja on Sunday.

According to the WTO chief, manufacture of vaccines on the continent will reduce vaccination inequality, made more stark by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite rising cases in Africa, many countries have struggled to secure vaccines for their population.

According to the World Health Organisation, only about 1.5% of the population on the continent is fully vaccinated. In countries like the US, the number is well over 50 percent.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala, who used to sit on the board of Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, said attempts have been made to bring the CEOS of “major manufacturing companies from Moderna to Pfizer to AstraZeneca, J&J” to the table.

The WTO boss, however called for the implementation of Diaspora voting in future Nigerian elections.

The President stated this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled, ‘President Buhari assures of more support for women to take up leadership positions, access credits, contest elections’.

According to a statement, the President disclosed this when he received National and International Working Groups of the Supporting Advancement of Gender Equity Initiative at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to commemorate the 2021 International Women’s Day.

Adesina quoted the President as saying that apart from ensuring that access to credit will be further eased, he would also ensure that more space is created for the women to participate in politics.

He was quoted as saying that “This administration places a premium on promoting women’s inclusiveness in national development as we have demonstrated with those holding key portfolios in this administration.

“They include: Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Minister of Women’s Affairs, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Minister of State for Environment.

“Other positions given to women include Minister of State for Transportation, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Chair, Federal Character Commission and Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority.

“I am very proud of the achievements of my former Minister for Environment and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Fatima Mohammed Kyari as the African Union Permanent Observer to the United Nations and the newly elected Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

“We will continue to support them to succeed. And we shall continue to advocate for our women who qualify to lead international fora.”

He described women as credible forces in strengthening democracy and promoting the culture of peace and food security, adding that he is grateful for the role women have played and continue to play in his regime.

Buhari noted that the theme for 2021 International Women’s Day, ‘Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World’, calls for more concerted efforts and Nigeria will be more than ever committed to join in raising the bar for women’s representation at all levels.

“This administration has demonstrated this by engaging in intense diplomacy to support the aspirations of Nigerian women to provide leadership at the global stage.

Announcing her resumption via a Twitter post on Monday, WTO wrote; “Welcome to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; @NOIweala on her first day as WTO Director-General!

“She makes history as the first woman and first African to take up this post.”

Recall that Okonjo-Iweala was recently appointed 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.

The Biden administration’s decision is the last hurdle standing in the way of Ms Okonjo-Iweala assuming the top job at the WTO after South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee pulled out.

Last year, Ms Okonjo-Iweala was supported by a majority of WTO members, but the Trump administration backed Ms Yoo, saying she was better qualified.

The office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a statement Friday: “Dr Okonjo-Iweala brings a wealth of knowledge in economics and international diplomacy from her 25 years with the World Bank and two terms as Nigerian Finance Minister. She is widely respected for her effective leadership and has proven experience managing a large international organization with a diverse membership. looks forward to working with a new WTO director-general to find paths forward to achieve necessary substantive and procedural reform of the WTO.”

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is set to be the first woman and the first African to run the Geneva-based trade body.

Forbes Africa in a tweet on Tuesday said the former Minister has been named “The 2020 African person of the Year.”

Reacting, Okonjo-Iweala, leading candidate for the office of the director-general of the World Trade Organisation, said she is thrilled.

“Thrilled to be named Forbes Africa-CNBC ‘2020 African of the Year’ following in the footsteps of my great brothers Paul Kagame and Akin Adesina.

This award is for Africans suffering the health and economic impact of COVID-19. The energy and resilience of Africans inspires me,” she said.

With this, Okonjo-Iweala joins a list of prominent Africans to have bag the prestigious award

Recall that Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), won the award for his outstanding work in agriculture and finance in 2019.

Also, Paul Kagame of Rwanda won the same award in 2018.

Other eminent Nigerians to have bagged the award are Muhammad Sanusi II (2013), former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Aliko Dangote (2014), president of the Dangote Group.

In a keenly contested election, Okonjo-Iweala beat her rival, South Korean Yoo Myung hee, with a wide margin. She polled 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat Myung Hee at the final stage of the race.

Okonjo-Iweala received widespread support from Africa and other continents before the election which took place today October 28.

Her victory comes days after European Union member nations backed her candidacy against Ms Myung hee, who was supported by the United States.

The official announcement is expected to be made by the WTO at 3 pm Nigerian time today.

President Buhari  made this promise when he received Okonjo-Iweala at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement titled “We’ll push, push until you win, President Buhari assures Okonjo-Iweala.”

Recall that the former minister and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-Hee are the two candidates contesting the top position of the multilateral institution.

According to the statement, Buhari told the former minister that she deserved more support to get the top job because of her profile and diligence in serving the country and the world.

“I assure you that we will do all that we can to ensure that you emerge as the Director-General of WTO, not only because you are a Nigerian, but because you are a hardworking Nigerian. You deserve this,” the President was quoted as saying.

He was also said to have assured Okonjo-Iweala that he will make more phone calls and send letters to some world leaders for more support.

“I did the same for Dr Akinwunmi Adesina for President of the African Development Bank.

“Both of you served the country under the Peoples Democratic Party. You are both highly qualified. We will continue to support you. I will immediately make those calls,” the President said.

The body however dropped three candidates from the contest.

It also plans to reduce the contestants to two final candidates in the next few weeks.

WTO said Mexico’s Jesus Seade, Egypt’s Hamid Mamdouh and Moldova’s Tudor Ulianovschi didn’t secure enough support in a first of three rounds of voting.

“Their expertise and high professional and personal qualities are highly valued and respected by all members,” WTO General Council Chairman, David Walker, said in a statement on Friday.

The second phase of consultations would begin on September 24 and run until October 6 after which the WTO would announce two final candidates.

The goal was to name a new leader by November 7.

Those left in the race are: Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri, Saudi Arabia’s former minister of economy and planning; Liam Fox, the UK’s former secretary of state for international trade; Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s trade minister; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and Amina Chawahir Mohamed Jibril, Kenya’s former international trade minister.

Dangote expressed his support for Okonjo-Iweala via two tweets on his verified Twitter handle @AlikoDangote.

The billionaire businessman tweeted: “A vote for her by all is a step in the right direction. I fully endorse the candidature of @NOIweala to lead @WTO. In these challenging times, @WTO needs the renowned skills and tested experience of Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala @NOIweala to lead the organisation through identified obstacles and strengthen its position as the prime facilitator of international trade.”