Kalu Advocates for African Trade at WTO in Geneva

Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, represents Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State. Since his appointment in June 2023, Kalu has taken on various responsibilities in international parliamentary forums, including the ECOWAS Parliament and the Pan-African Parliament.

In March 2024, he participated in the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, Switzerland, where he addressed issues related to African trade challenges. During this assembly, he met with WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to discuss obstacles faced by African primary-product exporters, such as product standards and aflatoxin contamination.

Kalu also advocated for changes in the Union's procedures for admitting emergency items, emphasizing the need for greater international parliamentary attention on crises in Africa, including Sudan and Gaza, while promoting gender inclusion in governance.