Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has disowned a viral message circulating on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, describing it as completely false and misleading.
The message, which falsely attributed a statement titled “Trump Didn’t Hit Us — Our Leaders Did” to her, has been shared widely across several social media platforms.
In a post on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala warned the public to disregard the message, stressing that she had no connection to it.
“Beware this story going around on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook is false! We are taking action!” she wrote.
She further criticized those behind the fake publication, pointing out the misspelling of her name as evidence of its lack of authenticity.
“The person who did this could not even spell my name. Whichever coward did this should write the message in their own name and not hide behind mine or anyone else’s!! Scammers and 419ers stop!” she added.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala urged Nigerians and social media users globally to verify information before sharing, emphasizing that such acts of misinformation damage public trust and spread confusion.
The WTO chief reiterated her commitment to transparency and accountability, cautioning against the misuse of her name for propaganda or fraudulent purposes.