Chiney Ogwumike: President Biden appoints Nigerian-born WNBA star as top adviser

Ogwumike will be a part of a new presidential advisory group, according to the announcement from US President Joe Biden. Image Credit - Instagram/ Chiney - Biden

Chiney Ogwumike: President Biden appoints Nigerian-born WNBA star as top adviser

Tosin Abayomi 21:25 - 28.09.2023

President Biden appoints Nigerian-born WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike to serve the African Diaspora.

Chiney Ogwumike, a WNBA player of Nigerian heritage, will apply her skills to the world of international politics.

Ogwumike will be a part of a new presidential advisory group, according to the announcement from US President Joe Biden.

Promoting trade, business, and educational exchanges between the US and African countries will be the council's main objective. 

Strengthening the cultural, social, political, and economic linkages between the United States and Africa is another goal of the President's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States.

President Biden appoints Chiney Ogwumike

According to a statement from the White House, they would improve communication between political figures and people from the African Diaspora.

Only one athlete, Ogwumike, a 31-year-old with immigrant parents from Nigeria, was named to the council's twelve members.

President Buhari receives a jersey from WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike.
President Buhari receives a jersey from WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike.

Chiney Ogwumike on appointment

Oguwmike took to her official social media platforms to celebrate the appointment.

Along with the photos was a message that said, “It is an honor of a lifetime to be appointed by the President of the United States to serve the African Diaspora. This is just the beginning!”

Nigerian-American WNBA All-Stars Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike are set for the LA Sparks
Nigerian-American WNBA All-Stars Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike are set for the LA SparksNigerian-American WNBA All-Stars Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike are set for the LA Sparks

Ogwumike, who was raised in Texas, played four years at Stanford where she bagged her degree.

In the 2014 WNBA draft, she was chosen first overall after graduating as the Pac-12's all-time leading scorer. 

The two-time WNBA all-star has recently sought a second career as a television commentator for the NBA and WNBA for ESPN.

Ogwumike was selected by the Connecticut Sun with the first overall pick out of Stanford in the 2014 WNBA Draft and is now also an analyst with ESPN.
Ogwumike was selected by the Connecticut Sun with the first overall pick out of Stanford in the 2014 WNBA Draft and is now also an analyst with ESPN.

This season, she joined the Los Angeles Sparks again, averaging 8.4 points and 4.3 rebounds.

Following the kidnapping of Nigerian girls by the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram in 2014, her sister, WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike, who also plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, started a UNICEF campaign.

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