One week into her new job as the seventh director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment as head of the 26-year-old global trade body remains historic, especially for women worldwide who aspire to leave a positive mark on global trade history.
Her current assignment at The WTO has been celebrated by Nigeria, Africa and women all over the world for many reasons. First is that she is the first woman to be on the seat, shattering the glass ceiling, first African, first black woman and all, disregarding all stereotypes, and negative profiles.
“I absolutely do feel an additional burden. I can’t lie about that,” Okonjo-Iweala told reporters during the first press conference in her new job.”
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is incredibly accomplished and brilliant. She rose through the ranks at the World Bank over two decades to become the 2nd most senior person. She navigated the international landscape engaging stakeholders across multiple organizations to drive impact. As a two-time Finance Minister under two different Presidents. She brought innovation to her role as Nigerian finance minister, launching many programs to bring transparency and reduce corruption.
What’s more, she’s someone who is highly regarded by everyone. Everyone speaks about her with a level of admiration that is constant, which is saying something. Now, as head of the WTO, we can be sure she will continue to strive for impact and do things differently.
