The whole of Nigeria, including President Muhammadu Buhari, and indeed all lovers of Nigeria have expressed their joy as the United States at last endorses Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the World Trade Organization (WTO) top job as the organization’s Director-General.
The US Trade Representative had on Friday confirmed President Joe Biden administration’s “total support” for the ex-World Bank managing director in her quest for the WTO’s top job.
This is of course after the last administration of Mr Donald Trump the past president of America has resisted any attempt by the Nigeria /US citizen to achieve this goal. The complicated reasons for this, The Scope News is not ready or willing to delve into now. The point being that at last victory has been achieved, and that is all.
The president of Nigeria speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Nigeria and Africa were happy about the new US position on the selection of the WTO’s director-general.
According to him, the development signified a shift and an important turnaround in the relations between the continent and the US under Biden’s administration.
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He said: “We certainly welcome the decision of the new US administration to remove the last obstacle in the path of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala to becoming the first female and the first person of African descent to lead the organization (WTO).
“Nigeria and the entire African continent are happy about this new US position, which signifies a shift and an important turnaround in the relations between our continent and the United States under the Biden administration.
“Today, we see that the United States stands with Nigeria and Africa with the acceptance of our widely respected citizen, Okonjo-Iweala to lead the WTO.
“We look forward to working very closely with the new US administration on this and all issues of common interests, especially in such areas as accelerated economic growth, fight against terrorism and deepening progress on development issues.’’
This is as congratulatory messages continue flooding to Dr Iweala for this success story and the wonderful conclusion> The truth however is that the journey now starts as the entire world, particularly the investment industries and other stake hulders in the WTO focus all their attention of the new boss woman. We pray her tenure to be successful, for the road to this new position has been challenging to say the least.
