Pix: Okonjo-Iweala’s Ankara In Expensive Geneva!

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, donned in her trademark Nigerian styled ankara outfit resumed as the new director-general of the World Trade Organisation, WTO in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, March 1, 2021.

Her simple Nigerian outfit contrasts with her new base in Geneva, Switzerland which is the most expensive city in Europe and the third most expensive city in the world according to 2020 rankings. Easily more expensive than the financial centre, Zurich, the high cost of living in Geneva is reported to flow from the fact that it hosts a wide array of international institutions and corporations.

She was received on arrival by WTO officials who in an announcement said:

“Welcome to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on her first day as WTO Director-General! She makes history as the first woman and first African to take up this post.”

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala on her part said she was “coming into one of the most important institutions in the world and we have a lot of work to do. I feel ready to go.”

The Director-General was welcomed by the chair of WTO fisheries subsidies talks Wills Santiago.

The former World Bank chief emerged WTO director-general after beating several other contestants in a contest that was seen as a contest between multilateralism and bilateralism.

She was initially stopped by the Donald Trump administration which had in its four years favoured bilateral approaches to negotiations as against the multilateral inclinations of the European Union which feverishly backed her.

Despite being among the most exposed Nigerian exports with work experiences in some of the leading international organisations, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala has been hailed for regularly donning the popular Nigerian ankara in her diplomatic shuttles representing either Nigeria or the international institutions she has worked.

She resumed at the WTO on Monday, March 1, 2021 in the same spirit.

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