Former Nigerian finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has become the first woman and the first African to be appointed as director general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The decision was taken by consensus at a special meeting of the organisation’s General Council.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala – who also holds US citizenship – is a former Managing Director of the World Bank.

The WTO faces numerous challenges in its work to settle trade disputes, counter growing protectionism, and to help steer the world out of the slump caused by the coronavirus pandemic.