Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Makes History As WTO's First Woman & African Leader

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was formally appointed the chief of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Monday, thereby becoming the first woman and first African to ever serve in the leadership role.

In a virtual ceremony, WTO’s team of 164 members selected her as the director-general for a term of four years. The accomplished leader will see the pandemic-induced world economies among the first tasks on her schedule. The WTO

BREAKING: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director-General.



Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO.



Her term starts on the 1st of March 2021.



More details soon. #WTODG@NOIweala pic.twitter.com/2RJkkfK2Id

BREAKING: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director-General.



Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO.



Her term starts on the 1st of March 2021.



More details soon. #WTODG@NOIweala pic.twitter.com/2RJkkfK2Id

— WTO (@wto) February 15, 2021

The appointment of the 66-year old Nigerian politician and economist comes in the aftermath of Yoo Myung-hee, the current Minister for Trade of South Korea, pulling out of the race for the post.

A United States Trade Representative outlined her as “a wealth of knowledge in economics and international diplomacy from her 25 years with the World Bank and two terms as Nigerian Finance Minister."

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: WTO's First Woman To Lead

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is known for her command over leadership and experience in global affairs. Here is what you need to know about her:

• Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala earned her PhD in regional economics and development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• She was a developmental economist at the World Bank for 25 years, rising to Managing Director of Operations. As MD, she successfully led several initiatives to assist low-income countries.
• She also served two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria, the country she belongs to, under the Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. She was the first female to hold the position. She has also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• She is on the board of numerous national, international, corporate and non-profit organisations such as Twitter, Standard Chartered Bank, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, African Risk Capacity, etc.
• Ngozi is married to Dr. Ikemba Iweala, a neurosurgeon. They have four children together - one daughter and three sons.