Two Nigerian-American Experts Gain Appointment as Special Advisers to US President

President of the United States Joe Biden recently appointed two Nigerian-American experts as his special advisers.

These two advisors, Osagie Imasogie and Chineye Ogwumike, are part of a group of 12 members on the President’s Advisory Council. 

In a statement from the State House, the establishment of the council was aimed at enhancing dialogue between United States officials and the African Diaspora.

The statement partly reads, “The Council’s members include individuals who have distinguished themselves in government and sports.

“They will provide invaluable guidance to reinforce cultural, social, political, and economic ties between the U.S. and Africa and promote trade, investment, and educational exchanges between the United States and Africa.”

What is the responsibility of the group?

This group is focused on engaging with people of African descent living in the United States. 

Other council members include Silvester Scott Beaman (who will lead the council), Mimi E. Alemayehou, Rosalind Brewer, Viola Davis, Helene D. Gayle, Patrick Hubert Gaspard, C.D. Glin, Almaz Negash, Ham K. Serunjogi, and Kevin Young.

According to reports members of this council will serve for the 2023–2025 term.

NIDCOM reacts to the Nigerian Americans’ appointment

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), congratulated the two appointees. She expressed that their recognition and selection for the 12-member advisory council serve as inspiration for fellow Nigerians and Africans.

In a statement released by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the spokesperson for the commission, Dabiri-Erewa said, “The nomination of the two great Nigerians into the advisory council is a welcome development.”

Meet Osagie Imasogie

Osagie Imasogie, a prominent figure in the investment and life sciences sectors, holds the position of Chairman at Quoin Capital and Quoin Advisors, a renowned Investment Bank and SEC/FINRA registered Broker-Dealer. He is also a co-founder of PIPV Capital, a private equity firm with a focus on life sciences, boasting over $1 billion in investments in the industry.

Before establishing PIPV Capital, Osagie played a pivotal role in founding GlaxoSmithKline Ventures and has held significant positions in renowned pharmaceutical companies such as GSK, SmithKline Beecham, and DuPont Merck, contributing to both their commercial and R&D dimensions.

A look at Osagie’s professional journey

Osagie’s diverse professional journey includes his tenure as a Corporate Finance Partner at Price Waterhouse and practicing attorney at the leading U.S. law firm, Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis. 

His entrepreneurial spirit and investment acumen are evident in his board memberships at financial institutions like FS-KKR Capital Corp and Haverford Trust, managing over $28 billion cumulatively.

Also, his advisory role at Brown Advisory, a firm managing over $140 billion, and his significant contributions to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Intellectual Property, underscore his multifaceted impact.

Osagie, a Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, holds LLM degrees from the London School of Economics and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and is a member of the New York State Bar.

Chinenye Ogwumike: 2-Time WNBA All-Star

Chinenye (Chiney) Ogwumike, a multifaceted personality, is a 2-Time WNBA All-Star for the Los Angeles Sparks and a prominent multi-platform ESPN host and NBA analyst. 

Born in Cypress, Texas, Chiney is a proud first-generation Nigerian-American and was the 1st overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft.

Chiney’s academic and athletic excellence shone through at Stanford University, where she graduated with an International Relations degree under the mentorship of Dr. Condoleezza Rice. Her accolades include the 2014 Capital One Academic All-American of the Year and the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Her commitment to her sport and her role as the vice president of the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) from 2018 to 2022 was instrumental in negotiating the groundbreaking 2020 collective bargaining agreement. Chiney made history in August 2020 by becoming the first Black woman to host a national, daily sports-talk radio show.

Chiney’s contributions extend to philanthropy and youth empowerment initiatives in various African countries, including Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, and South Africa, where she has worked with NBA Africa and other nonprofits to leverage basketball as a tool for development.