Why Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Should Lead the World Trade Organization

The author advocates for the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala as Director-General of the World Trade Organization, citing her international experience and African perspective as essential for restoring faith in the multilateral trading system. The text emphasizes that a revival of world trade is critical for Africa's sustainable development, noting that the continent must generate 20 million jobs annually over the next 20 years through agriculture and manufacturing to avoid poverty and conflict. While acknowledging the qualifications of Yoo Myung-hee, the author asserts that Okonjo Iweala's background as a former World Bank Managing Director and Finance Minister of Nigeria makes her better equipped to handle current global uncertainties, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

• The World Trade Organization currently faces a crisis of faith caused by a power struggle between the United States and China, alongside disruptions to supply chains and the global economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Africa's economic future depends on modernizing sectors reliant on unprocessed commodities and extractives to access fair global markets for processed foods, petroleum products, and fertilizers.
• The African Continental Free Trade Area, expected to take effect in 2021, is estimated by the World Bank to potentially increase regional income by $450 billion and lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035.
• To avoid cycles of poverty, migration, and conflict, Africa needs to create 20 million jobs per year for the next two decades, primarily through expanded manufacturing and the commercialization of agriculture.

APA

Webmaster (2020). Why Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Should Lead the World Trade Organization. African Center for Economic Transformation. https://acetforafrica.org/research-and-analysis/insights-ideas/commentary/why-ngozi-okonjo-iweala-should-lead-the-world-trade-organization/

Chicago

Webmaster. Why Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Should Lead the World Trade Organization. African Center for Economic Transformation, 2020. https://acetforafrica.org/research-and-analysis/insights-ideas/commentary/why-ngozi-okonjo-iweala-should-lead-the-world-trade-organization/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Webmaster |title=Why Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Should Lead the World Trade Organization |publisher=African Center for Economic Transformation |date=19 October 2020 |url=https://acetforafrica.org/research-and-analysis/insights-ideas/commentary/why-ngozi-okonjo-iweala-should-lead-the-world-trade-organization/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{webmaster2020why, author = {Webmaster}, title = {{Why Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Should Lead the World Trade Organization}}, publisher = {African Center for Economic Transformation}, year = {2020}, month = oct, url = {https://acetforafrica.org/research-and-analysis/insights-ideas/commentary/why-ngozi-okonjo-iweala-should-lead-the-world-trade-organization/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }