Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Saturday, arrived in Nigeria on a four-day official visit aimed at enhancing trade and improving the Nigerian economy.

Okonjo-Iweala also disclosed that she was in the country to express appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his support and to hold talks on how to stimulate economic activities.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala said the objective of her visit was to see how the WTO could better assist Nigeria and her entrepreneurs in improving the economy.

On Nigeria’s share of trade in Africa, she expressed optimism that Nigeria could use the African Continental Free Trade Area to boost trade and investment.

“And to do that we have to improve our investments and add value to some of our products because the AfCFTA is a unique opportunity for us to be able to engage commercially with other African nations to boost export.

“When you boost export, you create more jobs. We are also going to talk about the digital economy and how young people are accessing the internet for e-commerce, those are some of the issues and more activities we can create to support that,” she said.

In the same vein, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo noted that it was a unique moment and opportunity to thank the world for supporting a Nigerian to become the head of the World Trade Organisation.

“We have received a lot of support from many countries, we appreciate them. Her visit is specifically to start from home to say thank you to the President and Nigerians who supported her from home and in the Diaspora.

“Tremendous support has gone into the process and we are grateful that she emerged, after a very thoroughly contested process as the D-G. It is a proud moment for Nigeria, for herself and also for women in the world,” Sani-Gwarzo said.

According to her itinerary, she would meet with the president and his chief of staff at the presidential villa on March 15.

After their meeting, she is also expected to hold another session with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and Minister of State, Mariam Katagum at the ministry.

On March 16, Okonjo-Iweala would meet with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele after which she would engage the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 among others.

Subsequently, she would have a rendezvous with Captains of Industry and follow it up with a press conference at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Furthermore, on March 17, the WTO director would have a session with the Women Entrepreneurs and operators of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and followed it with a press conference with some ministers.

A dinner and reception in honour of Okonjo-Iweala would hold at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, to round-off the visit.