The World Trade Organization has selected Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its new director-general, the agency of global trade regulators announced Monday, following pushback on her nomination in October by the Trump White House.
The 66-year-old former finance minister of Nigeria will be the first female and first African to lead the organization, though she faced hurdles on the path to her history-making appointment.
She will take office on March 1 for a four-year term.
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Okonjo-Iwaela was tapped for the position in October of last year, before the presidential election was decided.
At the time, the Trump administration opted to veto the Nigerian economist’s nomination, arguing she lacked experience on trade issues at a time when it was challenging how the body operated regarding trade disputes with China
China fully supported Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination, as did European allies, Canada, as well as Latin American and African countries.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for Okonjo-Iweala rejected Trump administration criticism that she lacked
