The African Group at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) submitted an undertaking at its General Council (GC) to reappoint Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as director-general of the organisation. The Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Adebayo Thomas, revealed this in a press statement in Abuja.

On his part, the undertaking is for members to allow Okonjo-Iweala to run for a second term as chief executive officer of the organisation. Thomas said the undertaking was to also enable the Chair of the General Council (GC) to start the process of the appointment of the director general with the utmost urgency.

He quoted Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the WTO at the GC, Amb. Abdulhamid Adamu, as saying that members debated on the issue and all members emphasised all the work and qualities of Okonjo-Iweala and her support for the organisation, which brought about a lot of progress and development. They all noted that she was supposed to be re-elected as the director general.

“All the members in the meeting from all regions that took the floor—almost 58 members—supported the undertaking,” he reiterated. He added that members resolved that the General Council Chair should begin consultations on the appointment process as soon as authorised by the council.

Reacting, Okonjo-Iweala appreciated all members and promised to respond soonest with her acceptance after dialogue with family members.