The 78-year-old Democrat and former senator has nominated 100 people, including two Nigerians, after his victory over incumbent Donald Trump was sealed by Electoral College in December 2020. The appointment of the two Nigerian-born Americans Adewale Adeyemo and Osaremen Okolo as deputy finance minister and Covid-19 advisor is a positive signal for American-African relations.
Osaremen Okolo, 26, daughter of Nigerian immigrants, was named as one of the members of the Biden-Harris Covid-19 Task Force on Thursday, December 31st. She was born to Nigerian parents and grew up in Massachusetts. She graduated from Harvard College in May 2017. Her main focus was on the history of science (medicine and society) with a minor in African-American Studies. She also earned a high school diploma in global health and health policy.
According to the Street Journal, the Democrat served as senior health policy advisor to US Representative Jan Schakowsky from Illinois. While working for Schakowsky, she designed, negotiated, and administered the law, oversight, and policy of Congressmen as part of the broader health and public health agenda. Outside of health care, Osaremen Okolo spends her time writing creatively, passionately cheering on her Boston sports teams, and enjoying Nigerian cuisine.
Also from Nigeria and raised in Southern California, Adewale Adeyemo “Wally”, who will serve as President of the Obama Foundation in August 2019, is one of Biden’s “men”. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School. As an ally of former US President Barack Obama, Adeyemo was Deputy Director of the National Economic Council (NEC) and Assistant Secretary for International Markets and Development at the Treasury Department.
The 39-year-old Adewale Adeyemo “Wally” was also Deputy Chief of Staff of the Treasury in 2012 and, from 2010, Chief of Staff of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FPB) for 16 months. (afrik.com, text and photo)
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