Former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been elected Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Dr Okonjo-Iweala, in the final two-man race, polled 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat her challenger, South Korea’s Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee.
She becomes the first African to head the WTO.
The body is expected to announce her as the new DG by 3pm Nigerian time.
The 55-member African Union had also supported the former Nigerian former finance minister over her sole remaining opponent, Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea.
Okonjo-Iweala had also won the goodwill of a group of Caribbean and Pacific States as well as others from Asia.
Efforts to reach Okonjo Iweala’s spokesperson, Paul Nwabuikwu, for comments proved abortive as his line rang out. He was also yet to respond to text messages sent to his line as of the time of filing this report.