Members of the global trade community took their turn to celebrate the no. 1 global trade Icon and Director General of the World Trade Organisation WTO, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who just turned 70.

The Nigeria-born Development Economist and former Managing Director of World Bank has received scores of encomiums, flowers and goodwill messages from Ministries across the global trade landscape.

Friends, family members and aquaintances have not been left out in the outpouring of love and a rare show of affection to the Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, a portfolio she remains the very first to occupy in the country, given her unrivalled pedigree and global standing.

In a message of appreciation on her verified X handle @NOIweala and characteristic of her humble disposition, the WTO Chief said: “I don’t normally do personal tweets, but today is an exception! It has been one of the happiest days of my life – my 70th birthday! So much outpouring of love from everywhere!! I want to thank all WTO Ambassadors, WTO staff, friends and family.

WTO DG with hubby

” I’ve never received so many bouquets of flowers from all over the world, as I have today! Along with good wishes and prayers. I consider myself blessed to have a loving husband, family, friends and well-wishers! All Glory and Thanks to God!

WTO DG with hubby, family, friends and the WTO family

“So gratified that so many Trade Ministers took time out of their busy schedules to send me Happy Birthday Messages! Many thanks to Their Excellences Ministers of Canada, Serge Gnaniodem of Burkina Faso, @malkassabi of Saudi Arabia, @PiyushGoyal of India, @AmbassadorTai of the USA, @KemiBadenoch of the UK, Mr. Jamshid Khodjaev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, @MikayilJabbarov of Azerbaijan, @A_Shakkaliyev of Kazakhstan, @Senator Farrell and @ayrestim of Australia, Vladimir Ilichev of the Russian Federation, @DrDorisAnite of Nigeria and Helene Budliger Artieda @SECO_StateSec of Switzerland”

A one-man Orchestra entertains the WTO Chief and hubby.