The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has emerged the sole candidate for a second term in office following the end of the nominations for the position, a clear signal for her to have a smooth sail for another four-year term.Chair of the WTO General Council, Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, informed the global body’s members on Saturday that no further nominations for the position of Director-General had been received at the expiration of the deadline of November 8, adding that the incumbent Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, emerged as the only candidate for the position.

Okonjo-Iweala confirmed her willingness to serve a second four-year term in the role in a letter to the Chair on September 16.

On October 8, the WTO formally commenced the process for appointing its next Director-General, with members given until November 8 to submit nominations.

However, no nominations were received before the deadline elapsed.

Nigeria’s two-time Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala assumed office as the seventh Director-General of the WTO on March 1, 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to serve in such a capacity.