Without All Of You, I Won’t Be Here — Okonjo-Iweala Hails Nigerians’ Support

By Abiola Olawale

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), on Monday, appreciated Nigerians for the support she received from them during the campaign for her current top job.

Okonjo-Iweala, who visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciated Nigerians for their support and encouragement during the “tough race.”

Okonjo-Iweala had arrived in Nigeria, on Saturday, for the first time since she assumed office as the first African and female DG at the WTO on March 1.

On Monday, the newly appointed WTO DG was received by Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke at a press briefing in Abuja, lauded the Minister for the role he played in her successful race for the WTO DG seat.

In her words, “You worked night and day along with the Ministry of Trade and Investment and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. You worked personally to make sure that this happens. I remember calling you so many nights with one complaint or the other or one demand or the other and you kept your cool and were always trying to sort it all out. In short, you were absolutely amazing and I want to thank you for your personal attention to this. I say it and I will not stop saying it – without all of you and without support from ordinary Nigerians, especially the young people who were always on social media all the time encouraging me, I wouldn’t have been able to make it because it was a very tough competition with eight of us at the start, over a period of six months – very grueling – so it needed a lot of encouragement. It’s a proud thing that Nigeria has been able to make it. I am honoured and humbled to have been selected.”