The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has threatened legal action against those who falsely attribute some “invented comments on political and other issues” to her on social media.

This was contained in a statement released on Friday by Paul C Nwabuikwu, her Media Adviser.

“It has come to our attention that invented comments on political and other issues falsely attributed to the former Minister of Finance, now DG, World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are being disseminated on online platforms as well as on WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media.

“These efforts are obviously directed at mischief-making as the faceless people behind them are seeking to make Dr Okonjo-Iweala a tool of whatever agenda they are pursuing,” part of the statement reads.

While noting that the fake comments are part of a longstanding pattern of misusing the name of the current WTO DG, a phenomenon which he claims has increased in recent times, Nwabuikwu cites an instance where the WTO boss’ name was being used to advertise all kinds of public events without any prior discussion with her or her express permission to do same.

“These actions are clearly wrong and her office has had to respond to enquiries on issues and events that she knows nothing about.

“We urge the persons or groups responsible to desist from their unethical and illegal activities as Dr Okonjo-Iweala may be forced to explore legal options to stop the misuse of her name.”

https://newsbreakersonline.com/okonjo-iweala-threatens-legal-action-against-those-misusing-her-name/

The WTO DG designate, Former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has thanked the United States of America for backing her to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The US, in a statement on Friday, February 5, had expressed its strong support for the candidacy of Okonjo-Iweala, a few hours after South Korean candidate, Yoo Myung-hee announced her withdrawal from the race.

https://newsbreakersonline.com/wto-dg-okonjo-iweala-thanks-us-for-endorsement/

Former Finance Minister and the favourite for the position of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been named the Forbes African of the year 2020.

Forbes tweeted on its official account, “The 2020 #AfricanOftheYear Award honoree is… Congratulations to Dr. @NOlweala! Board Chair @Gavi; Board Chair @ARCapicity, gracing the cover of @forbesafrica”

https://newsbreakers.ng/okonjo-iweala-named-forbes-african-of-the-year-2020/

Former Minister of Finance in Nigeria, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has won the 2020 International Service Award of the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA).

Dr Okonjo-Iweala who disclosed this via her official Twitter handle on Tuesday, November 17, thanked WACA said she was honoured to win the prestigious award.

Full details on https://newsbreakers.ng/okonjo-iweala-wins-2020-waca-international-service-award/

Reports reaching our news desk reveal that the steering group of the parliamentary conference on the WTO tasked by members of the European Parliament of the organisation to screen the two finalists for the WTO DG job has recommended Africa’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the European Union to support.

This recommendation is captured in a communique released by the steering group after it had a joint hearing with the two finalists for the top job on Monday, October 19, 2020.

In the document dated 21.10.2020 and referenced D 103043, the body acknowledges that whilst both candidates interviewed are “extremely experienced, well qualified and knowledgeable”, the group has decided to rook for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

An excerpt from the communique reads... https://www.newsbreakers.ng/breaking-europe-endorses-okonjo-iweala-for-wto-dg/

The Republic of Kenya has declared its support for Nigeria’s candidate in the race for the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The WTO DG race has advanced to its final stage with two candidates left in the running. Dr Okonjo-Iweala and South Korean candidate, Yoo Myung-Hee saw off competition from several other formidable candidates including Kenya’s Amina Mohamed.

In a statement by Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs obtained by NewsBreakers https://www.newsbreakers.ng/breaking-kenya-makes-u-turn-backs-okonjo-iweala-for-wto-dg/

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has officially announced that Nigeria’s candidate, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and South Korea’s candidate, Yoo Myung-hee, have made it to the final of the race for the organization’s Director-General.

WTO spokesman, Keith Rockwell, disclosed this to reporters at the WTO headquarters in Geneva after the results were announced to member states at a meeting.

The spokesman said, “Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria and https://www.newsbreakers.ng/breaking-wto-confirms-dr-okonjo-iweala-as-finalist-in-dg-race/

Nigeria’s candidate for the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has made it to the next round of voting after a selection process which saw three candidates miss out.

With this development, five candidates are still in the race for the WTO top job after securing enough support to guarantee a place in the next round of voting.

General Council Chair, David Walker of New Zealand, and his two co-facilitators in the selection process revealed the five candidates who had secured the broadest and deepest support from the WTO membership and should consequently advance to the next stage of the process.

After due consultations... https://www.newsbreakers.ng/breaking-dr-okonjo-iweala-makes-the-cut-as-wto-shortlists-candidates-for-next-round/

Campaigning for WTO DG with Ecowas Ambassadors, Tunde Mustapha and Adamu Abdulhamid of Nigeria, Yusupha Kah of Gambia and Lansana Gberie of Sierra Leone at the Indonesian mission with Ambassador Hasan Kleib and his colleagues

Analyst, Olalekan Adigun, wrote this brilliant piece about how Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is building trust from her roots as she takes her campaigns for the Director-General of WTO to another level.

Here is an excerpt:

In the past few days, I have keenly followed the enthusiasm and the seemingly endless endorsements that have greeted the declaration and candidacy of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. From the diplomatic circles, she received the support of Ambassador Emmanuel Obiako, one of the most experienced career diplomats in the Nigerian Foreign Service, to the political support of ex-Australian Prime Minister, Ms Julia Gillard for the position. While this piece is not necessarily about the endorsements she has received in recent weeks – those won’t stop coming – my preoccupation here is to state the whys behind these endorsements which many people may not understand.

Full feature is published here https://www.newsbreakers.ng/wto-dg-okonjo-iweala-building-trusts-from-her-roots/

As the race for the position of the Director-General of the apex global trade organization, World Trade Organization (WTO) heats up, NewsBreakers NG, a medium that has committed to the candidacy of Nigeria's candidate Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has obtained the full manifesto detailing Dr Okonjo-Iweala's grand plan and intents for the WTO.

You can read the presentation on https://www.newsbreakers.ng/exclusive-read-okonjo-iwealas-wto-manifesto/

Okonjo-Iweala affirms what credentials WTO needs in its search for a new DG.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former coordinating minister of the economy and one of the frontline contestants for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has highlighted the kind of attributes the global trading body needs to lead it going forward.

Speaking in an interview with BBC’s Zeinab Badawi, Dr Okonjo-Iweala avers that https://www.newsbreakers.ng/okonjo-iweala-wto-needs-something-different/

Nigeria’s former minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, appeared at the screening organized for the candidates to the position of DG at the Geneva headquarters of the World Trade Organization Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

Virtue Digest published the full collection of photographs https://virtuedigest.com/photos-honor-glamor-as-okonjo-iweala-appears-at-wto-screening/

The full transcript of the sterling vision statement by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in her campaign for the position of the DG at the World Trade Organization (WTO) is accessible on https://www.newsbreakers.ng/transcript-my-vision-for-the-wto-by-ngozi-okonjo-iweala/

Watch Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala shares her vision for the World Trade Organization (WTO) if elected as its Director-General.

MY VISION FOR THE WTO https://www.newsbreakers.ng/must-watch-okonjo-iweala-shares-wto-vision/

Okonjo-Iweala Dazzles at WTO Conference

Makes A Strong Case for Africa, Woman DG

Nigeria’s former minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is running for the office of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) yesterday appeared at a press conference held as part of the selection process towards the appointment of the next DG of the global organization at the WTO headquarter in Geneva.

Full report and video on https://www.newsbreakers.ng/video-okonjo-iweala-dazzles-at-wto-conference/

Nigeria’s former minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has underlined her intention to run for the office of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) with a classy video where she stresses her suitability for the job.

Check out the full video on NewsBreakers https://www.newsbreakers.ng/okonjo-iweala-launches-wto-bid-with-a-classy-video/

The Nigerian Government has defended its nomination of Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the office of the director-general of the World Trade Organisation.

The Office of the legal counsel (OLC) of the African Union (AU) had earlier rejected the nomination of the former Minister. According to them, the nomination came after the November 30 deadline set by the ministerial committee on candidature for member countries to present their candidates.

The OLC, in a Note Verbale, stated that Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination violated Rule (11), 1, 2, and 3, Rule 12, and Rule 15(3) of the rules of procedure of the committee on candidatures within the International System of the AU.

However, the Nigerian government rebutted their claims of violation in a diplomatic document dated June 18, 2020. Nigeria said the OLC’s judgement “failed all parameters of objectivity, academic rigour and unbiased submission, a high standard for which the African Union is to be held.”

Details on https://newsbreakers.ng/wto-election-nigeria-backs-okonjo-iweala-despite-african-unions-rejection/

https://newsbreakers.ng/breaking-harvard-university-names-okonjo-iweala-global-public-leaders-fellow/

The John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University has named former Finance Minister and World Bank Managing Director the next Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow.

Okonjo-Iweala who becomes the fifth since the program’s inception in 2011 was preceded by distinguished previous fellows including Juan Manuel Santos, former president of Colombia; Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations; Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland; and Felipe Calderon, former president of Mexico.

Making the announcement earlier today, Harvard Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf stated that Okonjo-Iweala who begins her fellowship this month ‘will bring to the Kennedy School a wealth of practical experience and insights into the development challenges and achievements in Africa and across the developing world”.

“As the longest-serving finance minister in Nigeria and a leader at the World Bank for more than two decades, she engineered successful new approaches to fostering sustained and inclusive growth in developing countries. She will enrich our campus conversation on the public policy choices needed for effective governance that serves societies.”

In October 2019, Okonjo-Iweala delivered the Robert S. McNamara Lecture on War and Peace in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Kennedy School. “I am honored to be able to return to the Kennedy School as the Angelopoulos Fellow, and to work with students and faculty who are wrestling every day with the world’s most complex development problems,” she said.

The Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Program was established with support from Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, President of the Athens 2004 Olympics, former ambassador of Greece, lawyer, and recently appointed committee chair of “Greece 2021.” The program provides opportunities for high-profile public leaders who are transitioning from office or other leadership roles to spend time in residence at Harvard Kennedy School reflecting, teaching, learning, and conducting research. During her time at the Kennedy School, Okonjo-Iweala will meet with students and scholars as well as lecture, write, and participate in public discussions and forums.

Okonjo-Iweala was the longest-serving finance minister in Nigeria and the first woman to hold that position. She was also the first female foreign minister. Okonjo-Iweala led an economic team that drove systemic financial reforms and strengthened fiscal transparency to fight corruption, tripling the country’s growth rate. She also led Nigeria’s negotiation of a $30 billion reduction in Nigeria’s external debt. In her 25-year career at the World Bank, she rose to the No. 2 position of managing director of operations and oversaw the development portfolio for South Asia, Africa, Europe, and Central Asia.

A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University (1976), Okonjo-Iweala earned her doctorate from MIT and has been awarded 15 honorary degrees. She was recognized as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world by Forbes magazine for four years in a row, and by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019. Currently, Okonjo-Iweala is chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has immunized 760 million children in the developing world against infectious diseases. She is also co-chair of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate.

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Lots of positivity about Africa at the #UKAfricaSummit. Wonderful to see so many young African entrepreneurs including YouWIN Awardees from Nigeria.

PM Boris Johnson said, “Africa is the future and the UK has a role to play in that future.” With Rt. Hon Alok Sharma, UK DFID Secretary; Matthew Rycroft, DFID Permanent Secretary; and Hon Catriona Laing, UK High Commissioner to Nigeria.

How do we get higher returns from government investments in Human Capital Development? At an inter-ministerial Workshop in Addis with ministers focused on answering this question by working collaboratively across sectors to deliver results.

Auspices of the Harvard University Ministerial Leadership Program bringing together ministers from 12 countries including Min of Finance Ethiopia Hon. Ahmed Shide, Min of Planning Ethiopia Hon Fitsum Massefa, workshop co-chair, former President of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, Director of International Programs Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation Dr. Senait Fisseha, Min Administrative Reform Côte d’Ivoire Hon Raymonde Goudou Coffie

Great to welcome Jack Dorsey and the fantastic Twitter team Parag, Kayvon, TJ, Michael, Sierra, to Nigeria and Africa for their first visit to discuss entrepreneurship and how the Twitter platform can help young people create digital jobs.

With the creative African University of Science and Technology students, faculty and Governing Board Chair, Prof. Ibidapo Obe, in Abuja.

At the Tsinghua School of Public Policy and Management (SPPM) with the International Advisory Board discussing public policy challenges & opportunities and governance of innovation in Science and Technology.

With Founder Alibaba Group Jack Ma, President of Tsinghua University Qiu Yong, former Director-General of WHO Margaret Chan, Former Governor of PBOC Zhou Xiaochuan, 2018 Economics Nobel Laureate Paul Romer, Dean of Tsinghua SPPM Jiang Xiaojuan, Dean of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Danny Quah, President of Sciences Po Paris, Mion Frédéric, Dean of the Schwarzman School at SPPM Xue Lan.

Giving the annual McNamara lecture at Harvard Kennedy School: The attached Brookings Institution Poverty Maps show the changing face of poverty from 1973-2019 to have become more African.

In my lecture, ‘The Changing Face of Poverty: Can Africa Surprise the World,’ I argue that Africa can surprise to change the face and colour of poverty by 2050 building on and deepening past and present successes in macroeconomic management, emerging microeconomic reforms in the business environment, sectoral “employment creating transformation” in the so-called smoke stackless industries, and the deployment of technology.

This will have to be complemented by faster progress in education and skills building for a fast-growing young population, smarter management of urbanization and complementary development of human and physical infrastructure.

Giving the annual McNamara lecture at Harvard Kennedy School: The attached Brookings Institution Poverty Maps show the changing face of poverty from 1973-2019 to have become more African.

In my lecture, ‘The Changing Face of Poverty: Can Africa Surprise the World,’ I argue that Africa can surprise to change the face and colour of poverty by 2050 building on and deepening past and present successes in macroeconomic management, emerging microeconomic reforms in the business environment, sectoral “employment creating transformation” in the so-called smoke stackless industries, and the deployment of technology.

This will have to be complemented by faster progress in education and skills building for a fast-growing young population, smarter management of urbanization and complementary development of human and physical infrastructure.

Honored to have been inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences at a beautiful ceremony graced by the Boston Girls Choir. Listen. Very uplifting. Thumbs up �� for the International day of the girl child.

Got to celebrate the #AcademyInduction ceremony with some fellow inductees: Michel Martin beloved NPR and CNN host; Deval Patrick, former Governor of Massachusetts; Don Berwick, President Emeritus and Fellow of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement - IHI

It was good to see Jack Dorsey at #UNGA.

Great that Twitter has answered the #ChristChurchCall to work to prevent the upload of terrorist and violent extremist content.

With Seth Berkley

https://mobile.twitter.com/NOIweala/status/1178606009574662145

Congratulations to H.E. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her consistent push to vaccinate all Bangladeshi children. She is a vaccine hero!

At #UNGA2019 with H.E. presenting her the Vaccine Heroes Award with Seth Berkley

Supporting Universal Health Coverage at #UNGA including a primary health care platform powered by immunization Gavi. Pictured here with Omar Ishrak Chairman and CEO Medtronic, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, DG of WHO, Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Keizo Takemi, WHO UHC Goodwill Ambassador, Adolfo Rubinstein Minister of Health of Argentina, and Don Pramudwinai Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

The movers and shakers behind the $25 mil donation to the reimagined Africa Center at Dangote Hall New York. Aliko Dangote, Mo Ibrahim and Bill Gates with HE President Faure Gnassigbe of Togo and Africa Centre CEO Uzodinma Iweala.

Click on the WSJ link to get the full story. https://www.wsj.com/articles/africa-center-gets-25-million-in-donations-to-complete-vision-11569160800