The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has expressed appreciation to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerians in general for their support for the WTO job.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, who was received by delegates led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, on Monday in Abuja praised the minister for his role in contributing to her success in her race for the WTO DG seat.
“You worked night and day along with the Ministry of Trade and Investment and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. You worked personally to make sure that this happens. I remember calling you so many nights with one complaint or the other or one demand or the other and you kept your cool and were always trying to sort it all out.
“In short, you were absolutely amazing and I want to thank you for your personal attention to this,” the reports by Channels Television quoted Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as saying.
She also appreciated young Nigerians, who she said, were always on social media cheering her on. According to her, this was a crucial encouragement in the ‘tough race’.
“I say it and I will not stop saying it – without all of you and without support from ordinary Nigerians, especially the young people, who were always on social media all the time encouraging me, I wouldn’t have been able to make it because it was a very tough competition with eight of us at the start, over a period of six months – very grueling – so it needed a lot of encouragement.
“It’s a proud thing that Nigeria has been able to make it. I am honoured and humbled to have been selected,” she said.
The Director General of the WTO, arrived in Nigeria on Saturday for her first visit since she assumed office, told journalists that her visit to Nigeria was to show appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the support accorded her.
She disclosed that discussion on how Nigeria can leverage her position to benefit from trans-national trade was part of her mission to the country.
Okonjo-Iweala assumed office as the first woman and first African to lead the international body on March 1, 2021 and it would last until 2025.
GIK/APA