Nigeria lights up global stage, grabs two appointments

Nigeria is shining on the global stage, grabbing two international appointments this week.

On Wednesday, came the good news that Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been elected Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). She was the former Minister of Finance in Nigeria.

In the final two-man race, she polled 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat South Korea’s Trade Minister. She becomes the first African to head the WTO.

The body is expected to announce her as the new DG later this Wednesday.

IKE EKWEREMADU

In the same vein, the International Parliamentary Congress, (IPC) has appointed former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, as its Chief Coordinator for Africa.

Ike Ekweremadu represents Enugu East in the Nigeria 9^th Senate.

The appointment was conveyed to Ekweremadu in a letter dated October 26, 2020, by the Secretary-General of the IPC and member of the Pakistani national parliament, Senator Muhammad Ali Saif.

“We are proud to inform you that the Honourable President of the IPC has nominated your good self as Chief Coordinator Africa with immediate effect.

 “IPC endeavours to promote parliamentary dialogue and oversight of Climate Change and Food Security; Human Rights; Peace, Security, Conflict Resolution and Interfaith Harmony; Trade, Investment and Development Corporation; Health Research; Standardisation, Quality Control, Human Development; and Observation of Elections across the world.

“To support IPC in achieving the noble cause, your influence, experience, and goodwill shall help cover the whole of the African region, enabling the IPC to directly partake in projects for the general welfare of African nations and to uphold democracy”, the letter read.

Meanwhile, Ekweremadu, who is also Nigeria’s sole member of the Malta-based International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace, the legislative arm of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, has accepted the appointment.

The former Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Parliament, pledged to work for the realisation of the laudable ideals and objectives of the IPC.

He said he was optimistic that the world would benefit immensely from the rising influence of parliaments in global affairs.

“I, therefore, accept the appointment with the utmost sense of humility and appreciation,” he said.

AKINWUMI ADESINA

Only recently, Akinwumi A. Adesina was re-elected President of the African Development Bank Group. He was first elected to the position on May 28, 2015 by the Bank’s Board of Governors at its Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The  former Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria is the 8th elected  AfDB President.