Nigerians Show New WTO Head the Highest Form of Flattery

Nigerians are recreating the distinctive signature style of new World Trade Organization boss Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to celebrate her confirmation for the role. Citizens are donning her signature look: a full outfit and head tie in African wax cloth known as Ankara, a single strand necklace, and clear glasses. Her supporters have also taken up the moniker, #AnkaraArmy to rally behind the WTO chief. In the run-up to the WTO announcement, Twitter user and Life Bank founder Temie Giwa-Tubosun, proposed a cash prize for the winner of the challenge which she shared under the #NOIGoesToWTO hashtag. The challenge has since been shared more than 30,000 times under different hashtags, including #BeLikeNgoziChallenge as the women say how inspired they are by an African woman holding such a powerful position. “Thank you for giving my daughter and so many African girls someone to look up to,” one Twitter user, journalist Tolulope Adeleru-Balogun, whose daughter took part in the challenge said. Okonjo-Iweala has promised to prioritize fair trade and access to COVID-19 vaccines when she takes office on March 1.  Nigerian economist Ken Ife says her appointment will mean better African representation on global trade issues.

SOURCE: CNN