Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala takes office as World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General today, on 1 March. As the first female and first African in this position, she joins other Africans at the top of powerful multilateral organisations - Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus at the World Health Organization, Dr Amina Mohammed at the United Nations and Makhtar Diop at the International Finance Corporation.
There's a sense that this is Africa's time at the WTO, and there are great expectations that Okonjo-Iweala will champion the continent's interests. However, pushing this agenda at the WTO will require strong leadership from African countries rather than an African Director-General.
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