Why Egypt is scared of Okonjo Iweala
Why Egypt is scared of Okonjo Iweala
When we talk of powerful women in the world, you will not be mistaken if you mentioned Okonjo Iweala. This powerful woman has made a foundational name for herself in Nigeria and across the world, and she might be the reason why Egypt is currently becoming unsettled over the selection of an African candidate for the director-general position in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Egypt trouble started on June 4, 2020 when president Buhari withdrew the nomination and candidacy of Yoniv Frederik Agah, Nigeria's permanent representative to world trade organisation. He was replaced with Okonjo Iweala. Egypt strongly kicked against the replacement of Yonov with Iweala, giving the excuse that the nomination came late and should be voided. Egypt claimed that member states of the African Union (AU) had been required to nominate their candidate five months ago, and that the new replacement in Nigeria's candidacy is against the executive council decision.
Egypt outcry might be connected to the popularity of Okonjo Iweala, who may easily beat other candidates to the position. Other candidates Abdulhameed Mamdouh and Eloi Laourou are from Egypt and Repunlic of Benin respectively. Okonjo Iweala truly has a better chance in getting to the position than the other candidates, because of her past records of holding highly placed executive positions.
We must also remember that this woman is a former World bank executive, where she spent 25 years as a development economist. She also helped Nigeria write off her debt in the mid 2000s, she served as the minister of finance, economy and foreign affairs in Nigeria, and she is currently one of the African Union's special envoys to mobilize international support for Africa's response to the corona virus pandemic.
It is really enough reason for Egypt to be scared.
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