President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to rally global support for Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance and candidate for the Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The President stated this while welcoming Okonjo-Iweala to the State House on Monday.
President Buhari said that Nigeria will explore every opportunity and deploy its entire energy to ensure that she becomes the next WTO Director-General.
He noted that the former Nigerian minister deserved more support to get the top job because of her profile and diligence in serving the country, and the world.
“I assure you that we will do all that we can to ensure that you emerge as the Director-General of WTO, not only because you are a Nigerian, but because you are a hardworking Nigerian. You deserve this,’’ he added.
The President assured Okonjo-Iweala that he will make more phone calls, and send letters to some world leaders for more support.
“I did the same for Dr Akinwunmi Adesina for President of the African Development Bank. Both of you served the country under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“You are both highly qualified. We will continue to support you. I will immediately make those calls,’’ the President told Okonjo-Iweala.
In her remarks, the former World Bank managing director, thanked the President and his ministers, particularly the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment for supporting her staunchly.
“I feel very proud of Nigeria. I am getting so much support from you, Mr President, Chief of Staff, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investments. The ministers have been working around the clock to ensure that I succeed,’’ she said.
The former Minister of Finance also appreciated ECOWAS leaders for their endorsement, mentioning in particular the outstanding contributions of President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic and immediate past Chairman of ECOWAS as well as President Alhassan Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire.
She asked the President to “make one final push within the week to beat the Koreans and bring this to Nigeria by sending a few letters and placing telephone calls to some world leaders, and also thank others for their support.’’
“Mr President, put a smile on my face,’’ she said, “I am very proud of the country.’’
Okonjo-Iweala had last Tuesday emerged as a potential Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO).
She made the final list of two candidates for the WTO D-G along with fellow female, South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee.
Both advanced to the third and final round in the race to lead the Geneva-based trade body.
The global trade body is expected to name a new leader by November 7.
Okonjo-Iweala, a two-time Nigeria’s Finance minister, has experience working at international governance bodies as a former managing director of the World Bank and as a chairman at the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.
Yoo is South Korea’s trade minister. She has helped expand her country’s trade network through bilateral accords with the U.S., China and the U.K during her 25-year career in government.
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