World Trade Organisation’s new director-general makes history

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala arrives at the WTO headquarters in Geneva (Fabrice Coffrini/Pool/Keystone via AP)

The new director-general of the World Trade Organisation — the first African and first woman to hold the post — has arrived at its Geneva headquarters for her first day on the job.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 66, a Nigerian economist and former government minister, donned a mask as she made brief comments to reporters on the way into the imposing building on the shores of Lake Geneva on Monday.