What Okonjo-Iweala’s New Office Entails And What Is Expected Of Her

WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s office

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Following the decision of the General Council of World Trade Organization (WTO) in a meeting on Monday, Nigeria’s former minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed as the new Director General of WTO.

This is a great achievement for her and the black race at large because she is the first woman and first African to hold the elevated position.

The selection process had been grinding as she had to contend with eight other candidates from across the globe.

Even after winning the popular vote by a wide margin, the US opposed her candidacy, a development which stalled the announcement of the new Director-General.

However, fortune shone on the former World Bank executive after her last and major contender and South Korea’s Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee withdrew her interest.

Below are some of the major responsibility and job description of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s new office:

Okonjo-Iweala is responsible for directing and supervising administrative operations of the organization.
She has an important role in advancing global trade and cooperation.
The DG position holds almost no formal power as it is primarily managerial and advisory.
She cannot alone reform the organization, force government to take any specific decision or action.
She can’t single-handedly dictate the agenda of WTO.
Okonjo-Iweala has the right to make discussions, debate and negotiate in a more inclusive and democratic way.
She is the only person who can speak up for the World Trade Organization.