Okonjo-Iweala obtains US citizenship for WTO DG role

Nigeria’s candidate for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has obtained American citizenship in preparation for the role and joins other candidates who have dual citizenship.

Okonjo-Iweala started her career in the United States and has lived and worked there for more than 25 years without US citizenship despite arriving in the US 47 years ago.

According to Bloomberg, Okonjo-Iweala took up US citizenship in 2019, placing her in the same category as Kenyan Minister, Amina Mohamed, who is also Somalian; Egyptian candidate, Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh who holds a Swiss passport; and, Mexican, Jesús Seade Kuri, who is also Lebanese.

The dual citizenship status boosts the chances of candidates vying for the WTO Director-General position – this makes Okonjo-Iweala’s decision to take up US citizenship vital.

Prominent leaders already backing Okonjo-Iweala includes former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown who said the former Managing Director of World Bank is known for handling “the toughest of jobs” and delivering results.

While speaking about her qualities, Brown also pointed out her global recognition which has also seen her linked to the President of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before David Malpass was elected. She is currently representing Nigeria as a candidate for the WTO DG job.

Kenya’s former director of Anti-Corruption Commission, Patrick Lumumba, chose Okonjo-Iweala ahead of his fellow citizen whom Okonjo-Iweala is competing against.

Eloi Laourou, the candidate submitted by the Benin government – as the country’s representative for the WTO Director-General job – was withdrawn by the Benin Republic, in support of Okonjo-Iweala.

Okonjo-Iweala also got support from Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who said the global trade organisation needs the skills and experience Ngozi-Okonjo possesses. According to the businessman, Ngozi-Okonjo has the ability to mitigate the obstacles WTO faces.