Trade Nigeria providing hands-on support to trade companies, drawing trade cooperation from the private sector, formulating new trade strategies, and building trade infrastructure. With a widely established network of domestic offices in Nigeria major cities, Trade Nigeria has consolidated its position as a leading business organization dedicated to assisting SMEs in gaining foreign market entry and has actively contributed towards Nigeria achievement in promoting local and international trade.

The management of Trade Nigeria has hailed the efforts of the Federal Government towards the actualization of the World Trade Organization WTO ambitions of former Nigeria finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Hon. Nwabueze Buchi Goerge, the President of Trade Nigeria, a foremost trade and investment promotion organization in Nigeria, said the efforts of the Federal Government in setting up a committee for the actualization of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s ambition to become the next Director-General of WTO is very commendable.
Hon. Buchi George while speaking to www.otowngist.com, said that from experience and the trade and investment background he is coming from, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s move to lead the World Trade Organization is a blessing to not only Africa, but the world at large.
He described the former finance minister as a mastermind when it comes to reformation, adding that with the effect of Covid-19 pandemic on the global economy, a candidate like Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is perfect for the job.
“I am happy the Federal Government through the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment is taking this bold step. While I also appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating her for the position, it will be impossible to overlook the efforts of Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo”
“So far the committee has started working and Trade Nigeria will do everything possible to compliment their efforts”, Hon. Buchi George said.
He also revealed that Trade Nigeria in partnership with the Campaign Committee of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Federal ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment and other relevant organizations will work harmoniously towards a fundraising event to ensure nothing is lacking along the line.
“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s victory will bring a lift to African trade which is nothing compared to what is going on in Europe, America and Asia. We know what she is capable of because we have seen her demonstrate that in Nigeria, South Africa, World Bank and other places she has worked.”
“We believe this will pull through, but we have to put in everything we have because it is worth it” he said.
While inaugurating the campaign committee for Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Wednesday, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, described her as an eminently qualified candidate with proven leadership records.
The minister further described her as a bold reformer, skillful negotiator with abilities to broker numerous agreements that would promote fair trade around the world, if elected.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, on Wednesday in Abuja, inaugurated a campaign strategy team for Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who is vying for the post of the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Adebayo said the setting up of a Campaign Strategy team was key to the success in ensuring that the Nigerian candidate emerges 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 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.
The Campaign Strategy team comprised of officials of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Representatives of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigerian Ambassador to ECOWAS and African Union as well as Geneva – based officials.

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Adebayo, while inaugurating the team in Abuja, Thursday, said the team was key to ensuring that the Nigerian candidate emerge as the Director-General of WTO.
“An eminently qualified candidate in the position 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,” the Minister said.
He said 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 expressed optimism 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.
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 Nigerian candidate requires to emerge as the WTO Director General for the term 2021 – 2025.

https://tradenigeriainfo..com/2020/07/the-minister-of-industry-trade-and.html

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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

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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.

International Trade and Business Executive, Hon. Nwabueze Buchi George has likened his rise to prominence to painting on a canvas, saying it takes one stroke at a time to form the full image.
Buchi George who has been at the forefront of some international business and economic summits said that even when the picture of what he wants is incomplete, he is happy with where he is.
“Maybe this will inspire our youths but the life of a hardworking and ambitious person has to be planned and taken one step at a time”, he said. He added that the first thing is to have a plan and then following it step by step. “It feels like painting on a canvas; not every picture in the head of an artist are painted, and the same way, not all that are started are finished. Some start, give up and that’s the end, while others who understand that every masterpiece was made by thousands of strokes, follow it gradually” He recalled when he started his first company in 1999, with FOW Company Limited now registered in Nigeria, United States, United Kingdom, Canada and 15 other countries.
“I was still a student when the idea came and I put it down, kicked it off and gradually we are where we are today”
Hon. Nwabueze Buchi George who was speaking on how Nigerian youths especially can bounce back amidst the challenges of Covid-19, said the key thing to starting afresh or from scratch is planning and patience.
“The quick money syndrome has eaten down into the psyche of our youths in a way that people who have 5-year plan for instance look like fools amongst their peers.
“The truth is the only thing that takes away problems are solutions which means everyone should be busy thinking about the solution for the economic situation around the world”
He stated that youths who want to achieve something great take time to understand their environment and then find a way to help make it better.

While urging the Federal Government to have a sustainable plan that will lift Nigeria out of the Covid-19 lockdown effect, he advised that human capital development will be the easiest way out.
“Nigeria is a nation of entrepreneurs; almost everyone is into something but sometimes the environment and other infrastructural issues keep knocking them down. I’ll go for a well-planned support for SMEs, backed up with clear international relationships that will encourage both imports and exports between Nigeria and these countries”
Sitting as the president of Trade Nigeria, Globe Chamber of Commerce and other companies, Buchi George has shifted interest to 2021 with series of international business, investment and economic summits lined up.
“Covid-19 dealt us a blow, stopping up to five international events that were nearing kickoff dates and knowing we can’t blame anyone for that, we have shifted plans to 2021, believing that the world will heal by that time”
With Nigeria – Asia Business and Economic Forum scheduled for China, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan put on hold because of Covid-19, there was also Euro – Africa Economic Summit 2020 and Africa – Asia Export Conference 2020 which failed to hold because of the global pandemic.
But with Canada-Africa Economic Forum scheduled for 2021, Buchi Gorge revealed that through Globe Chamber of Commerce they are shifting focus to 2021.
“We can’t dwell on our loses, so we have to move on in our provision of international business solutions and we expect anyone who wants to succeed to move on with that”, he said.