NEWS
First woman, first African: Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala set to be named WTO boss
Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala looks set to be confirmed Monday as the first woman and first African leader of the beleaguered World Trade Organization, a near-paralysed institution desperately needing a kick-start.
The WTO has called a special general council meeting at which the former Nigerian finance minister and World Bank veteran is expected to be formally selected as the global trade body’s new director-general.
US President Joe Biden strongly swung behind her candidacy shortly after the only other remaining contender, South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, pulled out.
“I look forward to finalising the process,” Okonjo-Iweala said on February 6 after securing the Biden administration’s support.
The organisation is also eager to conclude the drawn-out process, having been leaderless since Brazilian career diplomat Roberto Azevedo stepped down last August, a year ahead of schedule.
The process of picking one of eight candidates to succeed him had been expected to wrap up by November, but the administration of former US president Donald Trump blocked the consensus to appoint Okonjo-Iweala.
‘Reform candidate’
The 66-year-old will not be at the WTO’s Geneva headquarters for Monday’s virtual session and it is not known when she would take up her duties.
The 164-member organisation’s special session gets under way at 1400 GMT and Okonjo-Iweala is scheduled to hold an online press conference two hours later.
The WTO picks its leaders through consensus-finding, so even though she is the only candidate still in the race — boasting US, EU and African backing — there is always the chance of a spanner being thrown in the works.
She will take over an organisation mired in multiple crises and struggling to help member states navigate the severe global economic slump triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Okonjo-Iweala argued during the race that she was best placed out of the eight candidates for the post to steer the WTO through the crises.
“I am a reform candidate,” she insisted.
She has among other things warned that growing protectionism and nationalism have been spurred on by the pandemic and insists barriers need to be lowered to help the world recover.
Even before Covid-19 battered the global economy, the WTO was weighed down by stalled trade talks and struggled to curb trade tensions between the United States and China.
The WTO also faced relentless attacks from Washington under Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump. Among other things, Trump brought the WTO’s dispute settlement appeal system to a grinding halt in late 2019.
‘Boldness, courage’
Okonjo-Iweala has said her priorities include getting long-blocked trade talks on fishery subsidies across the finish line and breathing life back into WTO’s Appellate Body.
Twice Nigeria’s finance minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and its first female foreign minister in a two-month stint in 2006, Okonjo-Iweala is seen as a trailblazer in her west African homeland.
She has brushed off claims she lacks experience as a trade minister or negotiator, insisting that what is needed to lead the WTO is not technical skills but “boldness, courage”.
She has portrayed herself as a champion against Nigeria’s rampant corruption — saying her own mother was even kidnapped over her attempts to tackle the scourge.
But her critics argue she should have done more to tackle it while in power.
A development economist by training with degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Okonjo-Iweala has also had a 25-year career as a development economist at the World Bank, eventually becoming its number two.
She is on the Twitter board of directors and chaired Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
ENTERTAINMENT
Lady reveals how her Estate people beat up man who faked seizure to collect money
A woman has disclosed how a man was attacked by the people living in her estate after he faked a seizure to get money from them.
Read also: “His father’s carbon copy” – Fans react as new video of Mohbad’s son pops up online
The woman detailed the incident in detail on her Twitter feed, @TheNonye, where she shared this.
She claimed that the man had come to the estate the day before, acting out a seizure and even foaming at the mouth to make it seem real.
When the estate’s residents saw this, they made an effort to assist; one woman even called her brother, a doctor, to ask for help.
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The man told them he was suffering from an ulcer and that he could no longer afford his medications, so they gave him some money so he could buy medication and food.
But an Estate worker discovered a video of the same man who was apprehended for staging a seizure.
Nevertheless, the man came back the following day in an attempt to get the remaining sum of money they had promised to pay him.
Now that they knew about his deception, the inhabitants beat him to barely an inch of his life.
See the video below:
Final update: He came back for the remaining money and they’ve beaten his life lmaoo. The whole estate have carried him 😭😭 https://t.co/q7hFfZAqzh pic.twitter.com/qBWAaCP6Sc
— Nonye Billions (@TheNonye) November 14, 2023
ENTERTAINMENT
“Why men need side chics” – Preacher reveals, netizens react
Nigerian preacher has mentioned the four important reasons why a man needs a side chick
The pastor explained in an Instagram video that, despite what is commonly believed, men need women by their sides in addition to their marriages.
He disclosed the four key reasons for side chicks’ importance.
The first explanation offered by the pastor was stupidity. He said that having side chicks is the finest way for a man to look dumb.
In response to a question about why guys are still searching for Coke after they have one, he pointed out that Coke in a bottle, can, or plastic is still Coke.
He identified premature death as the second reason why males require a side chick.
According to the preacher, a guy who wishes to pass away too soon must overwork his heart and stuff his body with unnecessary items.
He mentioned shame and embarrassment as additional reasons. A man who enjoys dishonor and shame, according to him, needs a side chick because that’s what he will eventually get.
According to him, a man should only require a side chick if he enjoys difficulty and turmoil.
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Reacting,
womeninporthacourt wrote: “This man is a national treasure. Protect him at all cost”
adeoluolatomide said: “While I understand you, sir… I prefer to have Coca-Cola in a bottle… I love it. 😂😂😂”
wallpaperplace reacted: “Listen to him before commenting! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣”
mizkimorahprecious wrote: “Y’all listen before commenting! Na like this una take pass exams? Wisdom sir….make we buy azul for u 😂”
Watch the video below:
ENTERTAINMENT
Tope Maggie, Ogbomoso-based Chef, set to dethrone Irish chef, Alan Fisher as he begins 200-hour cook-a-thon
Tope Maggie, an Ogbomoso-born Nigerian chef, is presently attempting to outdo Irish chef Alan Fisher in a 200-hour cooking marathon competition.
Read also: “God has been so good to me” – Uriel Oputa says as she promises to giveaway two wigs
This challenge comes after Alan Fisher recently beat Nigerian chef Hilda Baci to become the record holder for the longest cooking record at the Guinness World Records.
After an astounding 119 hours and 57 minutes, Alan Fisher was formally crowned the new record holder for the longest cooking marathon (person) by Guinness World Records.
This beat the previous best set by Hilda Baci, a Nigerian chef.
With a time of 47 hours and 21 minutes, Fisher also won the title of longest baking marathon (individual), breaking the previous record held by Wendy Sandner of the USA.
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In an attempt to beat Alan Fisher’s record of 119 hours and 57 minutes, Tope Maggie is scheduled to cook for an incredible 200 hours, just days after Fisher’s historic achievement.
As Nigerian chefs compete for worldwide recognition in the culinary arts, the rivalry in the kitchen persists.
See video below:
Tope Maggie, an Ogbomoso-based chef is set to dethrone Chef Alan Fisher as he starts a 200-hour cook-a-thonpic.twitter.com/5mQhheJ9YQ
— GistReel.Com (@GistReel) November 10, 2023
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