As Joe Biden Moves Into The White House, Meet 3 Nigerians Who Will Join Him As Presidential Aides

Today, history was made in the United States of America as Joe Biden, a former lawmaker and former vice president, was inaugurated as the 46th president of America.

He takes over from Donald Trump, the 45th president of the US who left a rather controversial image throughout his tenure.

Joe Biden's inauguration comes as a relief as Trump had set off a retinue of litigations which aimed at putting a barrier to the results of the elections that gave way to Joe Biden's victory.

Another thing that made Joe Biden's victory a joyous thing to behold is his diverse picks when it comes to the selection of his staff and that of his close aides.

Joe Biden's staff consists of Africans, Asians, transgenders, etc who form part of the large minority group in the USA.

Among these very brilliant staff members are 3 Nigerians who have made their country and their families proud by standing out of the lot in terms of outstanding qualities and competence.

The first Nigerian to be appointed is Adewale Adeyemo.

The 39-year-old was born in Gbongan, Osun State, Nigeria and he emigrated to the US with his parents when he was little.

Adewale, formally called Wally, was Appointed Deputy Treasury Secretary by President-elect Joe Biden on 30 November making him the first African-American to be appointed in the position.

Wally Adeyemo had served in the Obama administration and his efforts and inputs had made him one of the stars of that Administration.

Adewale Adeyemo is a whiz kid with extensive experience in the Democratic Party and in the management of the country’s economic affairs. 

Second on the list is Miss Osaremen Okolo. A native of Ewohimi in Esan South East Local Council of Edo State.

She was appointed as the coronavirus (COVID-19) Policy Advisor to the United States President-elect, Joe Biden.

Her appointment gives her a place at the Biden-Harris Transition domestic policy team.

Prior to joining the Biden team, Okolo served as Legislative Aide for Health Policy on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) in the office of a ranking Member, Patty Murray of Washington DC. 

A US citizen, She was born and raised in Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard College.

The third Nigerian to book a place on the Biden team is Funmi Olorunnipa Badejo.

An indigene of Kogi state, she was appointed as white house counsel by US president Joe Biden

A statement on the Biden-Harris transition website had confirmed the appointment of the US - Nigerian as an additional member of the White House Counsel,

 Badejo started off her legal career as an associate with the law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, and was Legal Counsel at Palantir Technologies Inc. 

A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the University of Florida, she is originally from Florida and lives in Washington D.C. with her husband and son.

These appointments have clearly shown a path we as Nigerians should follow in terms of appointments.

The FG should, in fact, do away with all forms of systemic nepotism and focus more on competence when making appointments.

This will go along way to cleanse the system and put competent hands in charge of the affairs of the country.

Once again, congratulations to our brethren for making us proud in the US.

Q