Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO), is positioned for a second term without opposition, according to an announcement by the WTO’s chair on Saturday.
The 70-year-old director-general, who took office in 2021, revealed in September her intention to pursue another term, marking her ongoing commitment to revitalizing the WTO. Despite initial resistance from then-President Donald Trump during her first candidacy, she now stands unchallenged in her bid for a renewed mandate.
Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg, the current chair of the WTO, informed member nations that “no further nominations for the position” were submitted by Friday’s deadline, confirming Okonjo-Iweala as the sole candidate.
Okonjo-Iweala’s term is set to end in August 2025, and WTO leadership decisions are made through a consensus among its 166 members.
During her tenure, Okonjo-Iweala has focused on reforming and energizing the organization, leveraging her extensive background as Nigeria’s former finance and foreign minister. Known for her results-driven approach, she positioned herself as a reformer capable of uniting disparate interests to advance global trade. While her initial bid faced delays under Trump’s administration, U.S. support shifted in her favor after President Joe Biden took office, allowing her to assume her current role.
