Chiney Ogwumike, a WNBA player and ESPN analyst, has been selected by President Biden to join a new advisory council that will work to strengthen the ties between the United States and Africa. Ogwumike, who is of Nigerian descent, is the only athlete among the 12 members of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States, which was announced by the White House on Tuesday.
The council, which was first announced by Vice President Kamala Harris at the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, will provide guidance on promoting trade, investment, and educational exchanges between the United States and Africa, as well as reinforcing cultural, social, political, and economic ties.
Ogwumike told The Associated Press that joining the council was a “calling of a lifetime” and that she wanted to use her platform to empower the youth of Africa. “I had the best of both worlds, with Nigerian determination and American opportunities that are endless,” she said. “It’s a pathway for youth to change their lives to empower themselves.”
Ogwumike, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, has been an outspoken advocate for African women and girls since she and her sister Nneka launched a UNICEF fundraiser in 2014 following the kidnapping of Nigerian girls by Boko Haram. She also spoke at the UN General Assembly last year about the power of sports and how it could transform the world.
Ogwumike is the youngest female on the council, which also includes Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis, Starbucks CEO Rosalind Brewer, and former U.S. ambassador to South Africa Patrick Gaspard. The council will be chaired by Rev. Dr. Silvester Beaman of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who has extensive experience and deep roots in Africa.
The establishment of the council reflects the Biden administration’s commitment to enhancing the partnership with Africa and its people, who are a rich and diverse community in the United States. Ogwumike said she was honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve on the council and hoped to make a positive impact. “I’m excited to learn from the other members and to contribute to the dialogue and the action,” she said.
Source: AP News
