Okonjo-Iweala Hails President Muhammadu Buhari as US Backs Her For WTO
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Okonjo-Iweala and Pres. Buhari Photo Credit: TheCable |
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has expressed her
gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians for their unflinching
support for her run to become the director-general of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO)
Okonjo-Iweala had beaten seven other
candidates to emerge the most preferred candidate for the much-coveted office,
gaining the support of the US government on Friday.
Expressing her gratitude to the US, the former
managing director of the World Bank also congratulated Yoo Mhung-Hee of Rep.
Korea for “a hard-fought campaign”.
“Grateful for the expression of support from
the US today for DG WTO. Congratulations to Madam Yoo of Rep. Korea for a hard-fought campaign,” she tweeted.
“Thank You President Muhammadu Buhari and all
Nigerians for your unflinching support. Thank you friends. Love to my family.
Glory to God.”
In June 2020, President Buhari withdrew the
candidacy of Yonov Frederick Agah, Nigeria’s permanent representative to WTO,
for the office of the DG.
This was faced with opposition from Egypt, but
Buhari emphasised his support for the two-time minister of finance, stating
that he would make calls to world leaders to support her.
“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,’’
Buhari had said.
“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.”
Okonjo-Iweala currently chairs the Global
Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), a public-private global health
partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunisation in poor
countries.
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