The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has unanimously approved the reappointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General for a second four-year term, commencing on September 1, 2025.
The reappointment process, initiated on 8 October 2024, was overseen by Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council. With no additional nominations submitted by the 8 November deadline, Okonjo-Iweala stood as the sole candidate.
During a special General Council meeting on 28-29 November 2024, Okonjo-Iweala outlined her forward-looking vision for the WTO. Following her presentation and a Q&A session with members, the Council formally endorsed her reappointment by consensus.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala took office as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on March 1, 2021, making history as the first woman and the first African to lead the organization.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala first assumed office as Director-General on 1 March 2021, becoming the first woman and first African to lead the WTO. With her dual U.S. citizenship, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also holds the distinction of being the first American to lead the World Trade Organization.
During her tenure as Nigeria’s finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala gained acclaim as a formidable negotiator, particularly for her leadership in securing a landmark $18 billion debt write-off in 2005. This achievement not only reduced Nigeria’s debt burden but also paved the way for the country to receive its first-ever sovereign debt rating.
Her reputation for impactful economic leadership was further cemented during her time as Managing Director of the World Bank, where she was instrumental in mobilizing substantial funding for grants and concessional loans to support development initiatives in low-income countries.
Okonjo Iweala’s initial term is set to conclude on August 31, 2025. Her reappointment reflects widespread backing for her efforts to strengthen the WTO’s role and capacity to address the dynamic challenges of global trade.
