By Adedapo Adesanya
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has acknowledged Nigeria’s nominee, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the post of its Director-General come 2021.
Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari had nominated the former Finance Minister for the post of the Director-General of the Geneva-based organisation.
The current WTO Director-General, Mr Roberto Azevêdo of Brazil, has announced he will step down on August 31, 2020 due to political and economic tussle, brought about by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“According to the timetable announced by the Chair of the General Council, Mr David Walker, the nomination period will close on 8 July 2020,” a statement on the WTO website said.
“Shortly after the nomination period has closed, candidates will be invited to meet with members at a special General Council meeting, present their views and take questions from the membership.”
Other nominees for the post so far include Mr Jesús Seade Kuri of Mexico and Mr Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh of Egypt.
Egypt had opposed the nomination of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala on the ground that it was belated.
The North African country told members of the African Union (AU) that her nomination should not be recognised.
In a letter to the African Union (AU) member-states, Egypt had contended that the nomination of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, a former DG of the World Bank, was out of time and therefore breached the rules of nomination, saying that Nigeria no longer had a candidate for the position.
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala is a world-renowned economist and international development expert.
She currently sits on the Boards of Standard Chartered Bank, Twitter, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, and the African Risk Capacity.
Business Post Contributor 
Dipo Olowookere