The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has reappointed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its Directors-General for a second term.
The WTO announced in a post on X on Friday that the decision was taken after its members agreed to give Okonjo-Iweala a second term after a general council meeting today.
WTO said the reappointment will take effect on September 1, 2025.
“Her second four-year term, which was approved at a special General Council meeting, will begin on 1 September 2025,” WTO said.
“DG Okonjo-Iweala took office as Director-General in March 2021 and is the first African and the first woman to serve as head of the organization.”
Okonjo-Iweala had announced her intention to seek another four-year term as the head of the organisation on September 16.
The announcement came more than a month after 58 member countries supported a proposal from the African Group of WTO for her to head the organisation for another term.
The WTO formally began the process of appointing its next director-general on October 8, allowing members until November 8 to submit nominations.
On November 9, 2024, the WTO confirmed Okonjo-Iweala as the sole candidate for the position.
In a message to members, Petter Olberg, chair of the WTO’s general council, announced that no additional nominations were received by the deadline.
Since taking the WTO reins, Okonjo-Iweala has tried to breathe new life into the fragile organisation, pushing for fresh focus on areas like climate change and health.
