Okonjo-Iweala: A win for multilateralism – Part 2

I made the case at the time for a strategic alliance involving some key countries to must enable Nigeria sail through at the AfDB and WTO. I made a case for Nigeria to tread with caution over these two irons in the fire at the same time. She has to be cautious with her approach, ensuring not to operate with a zero-sum mindset, but incorporating a give-and-take strategy, with gains assured for other parties in the process. The extent to which that played out we might not know, even if the withdrawal of the candidacy by Benin Republic and endorsement of Nigeria is left to interpretation. Obviously, Nigeria recognised and appreciated the intersection and successfully managed the process.
 
But only few would have known that the fight by Egypt and the indirect face-off between US and Nigeria at the AfDB was only to foreshadow what would eventually play out at the WTO, with respect to the candidacy of Dr Okonjo-Iweala for the position of the Director General. At the close of nomination, eight candidates had been nominated by their respective governments, following which a special General Council meeting held for 3 days in July during which the candidates met with WTO members to make presentation and respond to questions from members.

President Joe Biden says “America is back”. It is good to see America back, re-embracing multilateralism. The country is back in the World Health Organisation. It has made a return to the Paris Climate Accord. It has given its backing to the candidacy of Nigeria’s Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the WTO, affirming the consensus arrived at by other members of the organisation, paving the way for the first African and woman as head of the institution. It is a historic win for Nigeria and Africa as well as a reassuring return of a more embracing form of multilateralism on the world stage.  
Concluded.
Olorunfemi works for Hoofbeatdotcom, a Nigerian Communications Consultancy and publisher of Africa Enterprise.