The Most Important Job for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Most of our community members have made good points here: the director general position in the World Trade Organization may not be the right job for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. They posited that the DG job is an individual accomplishment that has only marginal value for Nigeria. Except trading global oil subsidies, I am not sure we have antenna systems that capture global trade, to benefit from her ascension.

It is one of those unfortunate things in the world: those who hired a cosmetic diva and a real estate flipper as trade advisers and negotiators are asking a Harvard graduate and MIT PhD to prove that she is qualified for a job. Reading Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s response to the United States on the World Trade Organization blockage is painful. But that is the world we live: you must be twice good to be half-celebrated. What can I say that her main competitor has not come out to endorse her. I mean how would the second in class, Ms  Yoo Myung-hee, feel if she actually gets this job? You lost the match but went home with the gold medal. Tufiakwa!

So, most are asking: can Dr. Okonjo-Iweala run for president in Nigeria, in 2023? Ideally, that one would benefit Nigeria more, if she succeeds!

Yet, I still think she will get the WTO job because her opponent will not be effective having come second in the process; U.S. made up its mind very late, unlike during Obama time when they made it clear very early whom they wanted to coronate.

Follow the conversation here at LinkedIn

Comment #1: She will be among the best if not the best for 2023. Unfortunately, the voters in conservative northern Nigeria will NEVER buy into her candidacy in 2023. Not because she’s NOI, but she’s female and a Christian.

My Response to Comment #1: The Christian point, not sure as GEJ won big in the north. But woman one? They do have female House members from north. With the protests, I think people are getting smarter: who can make my life better?. Every politician will have to make that case to win votes in 2023. In politics, besides competence, one has to have other skills – “white lies”. NOI will need to learn those skills if she wants to make progress.

Another comment: Ndubuisi Ekekwe i like your reply Prof. To add, OBJ also won big in the north. As for the female part, I believe it’s a nationwide issue not particular to the north, else we’d have seen female Governors in several southern states. In her case, her extraordinary competence will speak for itself, she’s among the best the country has to offer, no one can deny this.

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