Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been recommended to become the new director-general of the World Trade Organisation.

A key group of WTO ambassadors proposed Okonjo-Iweala to lead the World Trade Organization, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The recommendation of Okonjo-Iweala was made by three WTO ambassadors, the so-called “troika”, after consulting with members in a series of closed-door meetings in Geneva as part of an intricate and secretive process that some have compared to a papal succession, Reuters reported.

But the recommendation still needs to be approved by consensus at a meeting of the WTO’s 164 members.
[ad]
The meeting will take place on Wednesday as the WTO may announce its new director-general at 3 pm Nigerian time, with several signs moving towards Nigeria’s former finance minister after more than four months of consultations.

The European Union and African Union endorsed Okonjo-Iweala for the position.

However, three sources following the contest said that Washington had privately indicated a preference for Yoo, although it is unknown whether it would block Ngozi, Reuters reported.
[ad]
Many members such as China and the United States have declined to name their preference publicly although some African, Caribbean and other states have voiced support for Okonjo-Iweala.

Okonjo-Iweala was Nigeria’s first female finance minister and has a long career at the World Bank as a development economist.

She will be the first director-general from Africa and the first woman to lead the institution.
[ad]