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Trade Nigeria threw their weight behind the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Richard Adeniyi Adebayo’s decision to inaugurate a campaign team for Dr. Ngozi Okonji-Iweala who is vying for the position of director general of the world trade organization.

The Trade Nigeria president, Hon. Nwabueze Buchi George, applauds and commends the decision of the Minister and the Federal Government at large, for their unbridled desire to support Dr. Okonjo-Iweala quest for the position of Director General of the World Trade Organization.

The Trade Nigeria gaffer further said, this decision of the Federal government will go a long way to create an image of confidence, acceptability and a working synergy between the federal government and Nigerians working in Diaspora.


The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, on Wednesday in Abuja, said the setting up of a Campaign team was key in ensuring that the Nigeria's candidate emerge as the Director-General of WTO.

He noted that the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to nominate Dr. Ngozi Okonjo–Iweala as Nigeria’s candidate for the position of Director- General of WTO was taken in good faith, given the overriding consideration of the need to host Africa’s chance and for the promotion of gender mainstreaming at the world’s top trade post

He was optimistic that the Nigerian candidate would emerge as the next Director General of WTO, based on her capabilities and wealth of experience at the highest level of World Bank as a Development Economist, Diplomat and one of the Africa’s most trusted technocrats.

“An eminently qualified candidate in the person of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala with proven leadership, bold reformer, skillful negotiator with abilities to broker numerous agreements that would promote fair trade should be selected for the position of the Director General of the WTO; I am confident that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala possesses the qualities to lead the most important global multilateral body", he opined.

He therefore charged the team to develop winning strategy for the candidate and also called on stakeholders, media, public, private and trading partners to give necessary support that she requires to emerge as the WTO Director General for the term 2021 – 2025.
“My belief is that the team will intensify its level of dedication over time to ensure that we achieve success”, he stated.

Minister of State, Amb. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, who is the Team Leader of the Campaign Strategy team assured of the full commitment of members of the team to deliver on its mandate, saying “We must all get to work as a team in the most strategic and professional manner to deliver on this important assignment in line with the Terms of Reference”, she stated.

Trade Nigeria alongside Nigeria Ministries drum support for Okonjo-Iweala's WTO Ambition.

Trade Nigeria alongside two federal ministries are working towards the realization of the Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's ambition to become the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization WTO.

With ECOWAS already endorsing her ambition, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment alongside Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Nigeria are joining forces to raise fund as well as provide all necessary support to see that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala's ambition pulls through.

A two-time Minister of Finance in Nigeria, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is also a former Managing Director, Operations, World Bank and she said that heading World Trade Organization, is an opportunity to serve all nations of the world.

In an interview with the BBC, she said she believes WTO needs some reforms that will make it relevant in modern day bilateral trade, adding that with her reputation as a reformer, she is the right person for the job'

“I want the job because I think I have the skills for it. I think the organization needs some reforms to make it relevant for times we are in and I have a reputation as a strong reformer. I have actually written a book titled ‘Reforming the Reformable,’ where we undertook certain reforms with a team in Nigeria. I am also a person with strong negotiation skills. I have a career of over 30 years for constantly been involved in negotiating an important agreement between countries.”


Speaking to www.otowngist.com, the president of Trade Nigeria, Hon. Nwabueze Buchi George who attended the meeting with the ministries, said supporting Dr. Okonjo-Iweala's ambition is worth it and something more nations of the world should take seriously.

He added that she has a reputation that has made her work as a member of the South African Presidential Economic Advisory Council and other organizations where she has championed various economic reforms.

"Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is not just a Nigerian or an African, she belongs to the entire world and that is where she should be.

"With what she has done and coming from the background of trade and investment, I understand the role of bilateral trade in the development economies and I also understands what we have and don't have around the world at moment"

"Can she do it? Yes she can. Should we support her? Yes and that is what we are doing at the moment to see she doesn't lack anything from now till the time of voting. It was a productive meeting and we will keep moving with the plans", Buchi George said.

No African has previously headed World Trade Organization and should Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala win, she will be the first African in that seat.

Asia-Africa Economic Forum is the convergence of top business magnates, stakeholders and policy makers of both the Asia and Africa extraction to discuss and shield light on matters inhibiting trade development in both continents, and proffer solution, and a more comprehensive form of partnership that will help to annex the untapped potentials of both continent.

in addition, over the past decades businesses in Asia have increased in both quality and diversity. within Asia, several countries like Korea, China, Vietnam and Thailand among others have converge towards becoming the world's frontiers in business. Their quality of growth has been substantial in manufacturing although the quality of commodities have also increased due to the development of vertically integrated industries. on the diversity criteria Africa have generally lagged behind, and there is no evidence of growth in regional and global competitiveness.

The Asia-Africa Economic Forum will be a wake-up call for Africa to think and work constructively for the growth and development of Africa.