South Korea has reportedly decided to withdraw its candidate from the race for the World Trade Organisation Director-General, paving the way for Nigeria’s candidate, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to be confirmed as the head of the global trade body.

Yoo Myung-hee is South Korea’s Trade Minister and its candidate for the top job at the WTO following the resignation of Roberto Azevedo. Okonjo-Iweala had secured the popular vote by a wide margin on October 28, but was not named DG because the United States opposed her candidacy.

The two women are the last candidates standing and the eventual winner will set a record as being the first female WTO DG.