Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Archives - Daily Dates Nigeria

Okonjo-Iweala Helped Nigeria To Get COVID-19 Vaccine- Boss Mustapha

DailyDatesNG — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 20:15:44 +0000

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has urged the Director-General of World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to use her office and wealth of experience to help make Nigeria’s economy better.

Boss Mustapha made this plea while receiving Okonjo-Iweala at his office in Abuja, on Tuesday.

The SGF recalled that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was instrumental in the acquisition and delivery of the vaccine available in the country.

Mustapha congratulated her for her election as the first woman and first African DG of the WTO.

The SGF expressed his confidence that her election into the office would bring goodwill to Nigeria and will also help advance the course of development in the country.

He commended her for ensuring the delivery of the COVID vaccine to Nigeria.

In response to this, Okonjo-Iweala revealed that she chose Nigeria as her first official country of visit because charity begins at home.

The WTO Boss said another main reason for her visit was to see how the organisation can support the nation’s economy.

She stated that the organisation has chosen to pay attention to health and issues surrounding the transportation of medical products around the globe due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Okonjo-Iweala revealed that the organisation is working with members countries to reduce exports restrictions which is hindering the supply chains of many of the medical products.

According to her, WTO would ensure member countries across the globe receive medical supplies, equipment and vaccines without hindrances.

The post Okonjo-Iweala Helped Nigeria To Get COVID-19 Vaccine- Boss Mustapha appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala To Become WTO First African Leader

DailyDatesNG — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 14:53:26 +0000

South Korean candidate contesting for the World Trade Organization, WTO, Yoo Myung-hee, has dropped out of the race.

South Korea’s exit effectively opens the door for Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to become WTO first African leader.

In a statement, Yoo, the South Korean Trade Minister, said that she had been “in consultation with major countries such as the United States” over the consensus vote to become the next director-general of the WTO.

Nigerian candidate Okonjo-Iweala had been recommended by top WTO officials to lead the Geneva body in October, after being judged to have had majority support among members, but the appointment was blocked by the United States under the Trump administration.

Former US trade representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer said that her opponent, Yoo, “is a bona fide trade expert who has distinguished herself during a 25-year career as a successful trade negotiator and trade policymaker”.

Okonjo-Iweala had the key backing of China, the European Union, and Japan.

Yoo’s decision may signal a softening in the US stance towards the WTO.

At the end of January, after Biden’s inauguration, the US supported a statement calling for “the swift appointment of a new WTO director-general, as well as the confirmation of the date and venue of the 12th Ministerial Conference”.

Yoo’s statement said that Seoul will “continue to contribute in various ways to strengthen the restoration of the multilateral trading system as a responsible trading powerhouse”.

The post Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala To Become WTO First African Leader appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.