TheCable

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate for the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is currently holding a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock.

The former minister of finance was announced as one of the two final candidates in the WTO election alongside Yoo Myung-hee, the South Korean candidate, on October 7.

She was accompanied to the villa by Niyi Adebayo, the minister of industry, trade and investment, Zubair Dada, the minister of state for foreign affairs, and Maryam Katagum, the minister of state for industry, trade and investment.

If she wins the election, Okonjo-Iweala will be the first African and first female to lead the WTO in its 25 years of existence.

The third phase of consultations with member countries of the WTO to select a preferred candidate will commence on October 19 and run until October 27

She is currently the chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

She is also a board member at Twitter, Standard Chartered Bank, and African Risk Capacity; co-chair of the Global Commission for the Economy and Climate; member Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) international advisory board; International Monetary Fund external advisory board, and African Union special envoy.