In September 2024, she officially announced her bid for a second term as head of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Now reappointed to her role, she faces significant challenges ahead.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (photo) has been unanimously re-elected for a second term as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The former Nigerian Minister was re-elected during a special WTO General Council held on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, 2024. As the sole candidate, she secured unanimous backing, reinforcing her position as the first woman and the first African to lead the organization since assuming office on March 1, 2021.

Her re-election follows a first term shaped by heightened trade tensions among the United States, Europe, and China, as well as economic crises stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. These challenges tested the WTO’s resilience but also allowed Okonjo-Iweala to stand out through her advocacy for ambitious reforms and fairer trade rules.

“The General Council commends Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for her outstanding leadership during her first term. Amid significant global economic challenges, she strengthened the WTO’s ability to support its members and set a forward-looking agenda for the organization,” said Ambassador Petter Ølberg, Chair of the WTO General Council.

Her second term, beginning on September 1, 2025, is expected to be pivotal. The Nigerian economist will need to navigate the global trade environment under the renewed presidency of Donald Trump, whose return to the White House could exacerbate already tense trade relations between the U.S. and China, further straining global commerce.

Reviving the WTO’s Appellate Body will also be a top priority. The mechanism, which has been paralyzed for years due to U.S. objections over alleged overreach, remains a critical hurdle to resolving trade disputes. Okonjo-Iweala will also focus on finalizing negotiations on fisheries subsidies and advancing other ongoing trade processes. Additionally, she will be closely watched for her role in facilitating the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

After her tenure at the World Bank, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made history in 2003 by becoming Nigeria’s first female Finance Minister, where she gained recognition for her dedication to combating corruption. In 2006, she broke another barrier by serving as the country’s first female Foreign Minister before returning to the Finance Ministry later that same year, a position she held until 2011.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou