IPU Appoints Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu to WTO Steering Committee
February 16, 2025
Nigeria to Benefit from AfCTA Global Trade Policies and SDGs as Deputy Speaker Kalu Joins Steering Committee
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has been appointed to the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (PCWTO). This marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s involvement in global trade policies, especially in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).
The appointment was communicated in a letter from Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), dated February 12, 2025, addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, PhD.
Deputy Speaker Kalu, who also serves as the Chairman of the Finance and Administrative Committee at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, is currently attending a high-profile meeting of the IPU in New York. His active participation in discussions such as Africa’s inclusion in the UN Security Council and global aid coordination further underscores his commitment to promoting sustainable development.
The invitation to join the PCWTO Steering Committee represents a historic first for Nigeria. The committee plays a crucial role in overseeing the World Trade Organization (WTO) and ensuring greater transparency and accountability in global trade processes. The committee, comprising representatives from 25 national parliaments and international organizations, meets biannually in Geneva and Brussels to review WTO matters and facilitate dialogue.
Kalu’s appointment is expected to significantly impact Nigeria’s economy and strengthen its position in global trade. The Deputy Speaker will collaborate closely with key figures like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the WTO, to drive trade as a tool for poverty eradication and sustainable development—goals aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition to contributing to high-level trade policy discussions, Kalu will have access to real-time updates on WTO negotiations, particularly the Doha Round talks, and the opportunity to exchange insights with leading global trade negotiators and parliamentary colleagues from around the world.
This development further enhances Nigeria’s growing influence in the global trade landscape and reflects its dedication to fostering economic growth and development across Africa. Nigeria’s representation in the PCWTO Steering Committee will be pivotal in shaping the continent’s trade policies, especially as Africa aims to leverage the WTO for enhanced economic cooperation and growth.
The official invitation letter reads, in part:
“Since 2002, the IPU and the European Parliament have led the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO to provide parliamentary oversight of the WTO and ensure it is held accountable to elected representatives of the people. The Steering Committee of the Conference invites six new parliaments every four years, and we are pleased to extend an invitation to Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu to join this esteemed body starting from the 55th session in September/October 2025.”
This marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s trade diplomacy and underscores the country’s commitment to playing an integral role in global trade and sustainable economic development.
For further inquiries, please contact: Levinus Nwabughiogu
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives
Federal Republic of Nigeria
