In a significant move showcasing the continued influence and contribution of the African diaspora in the United States, U.S. President Joe Biden has appointed two accomplished Nigerian Americans, Osagie Imasogie and Chiney Ogwumike, as advisers.
The duo joins the esteemed President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States, a 12-member group aimed at fostering stronger connections with the African diaspora in the U.S.
Chiney Ogwumike, a prominent figure in both professional sports and media, stands as one of the two appointees. A two-time WNBA All-Star, Ogwumike made her mark with the Los Angeles Sparks and currently serves as a full-time, multi-platform ESPN commentator and NBA analyst.
Her unique position as a professional athlete with a concurrent national sports media broadcast role sets her apart in the industry.
Ogwumike’s accolades include being the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year and achieving All-Star status twice (in 2014 and 2018). Proudly identifying as Nigerian-American, she graduated from Stanford University with an International Relations degree, benefiting from the mentorship of the distinguished Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
Breaking barriers in August 2020, Ogwumike became the first Black woman to host a national daily sports-talk radio show. Her accomplishments also extend to her role as the Executive Producer of the ESPN Films documentary “144,” which delves into the 2020 WNBA season.
Osagie Imasogie, the other appointee, brings a wealth of experience in finance, entrepreneurship, and law to the advisory council. As the Chairman of the Investment Bank and SEC/FINRA registered Broker-Dealer, Quoin Capital, and Quoin Advisors, Imasogie plays a pivotal role in the financial sector.
Furthermore, Imasogie is a co-founder of PIPV Capital, a private equity firm with a strong focus on the life sciences vertical, having invested over $1 billion in the industry. His illustrious career includes the establishment of GlaxoSmithKline Ventures, where he served as its founding Vice President.
Imasogie’s impressive professional journey encompasses senior commercial and R&D positions within pharmaceutical giants like GSK, SmithKline Beecham, and DuPont Merck. He has also contributed as a Price Waterhouse Corporate Finance Partner and as a practicing attorney at the renowned U.S. law firm Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis.
Diversifying his portfolio, Imasogie serves on the boards of esteemed financial institutions such as FS-KKR Capital Corp and Haverford Trust, collectively managing over $28 billion. He lends his expertise as an adviser to Brown Advisory, a firm managing over $140 billion in assets.
His commitment to the cultural and academic spheres is equally commendable, holding positions as the Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and as a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center.
Moreover, Imasogie is a Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, actively contributing to its governance. As Chairman of the Board of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Intellectual Property. Imasogie boasts 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, with admission to practice in various jurisdictions.
Congratulating the two exceptional Nigerians on their appointment, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed her delight and hailed their recognition.
She stated, “The nomination of the two great Nigerians into the advisory council is a welcome development.” Her sentiments reflect the inspiration that Imasogie and Ogwumike’s achievements provide to other Nigerians and Africans as they continue to excel on the international stage.
As Osagie Imasogie and Chiney Ogwumike assume their roles as advisers in the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement, they stand poised to make significant contributions, representing the vibrant Nigerian-American community and fostering stronger ties between the United States and the African diaspora.
