United States President, Joe Biden, yesterday, announced the appointment of Chinenye Joy Ogwumike, a two-time WNBA All-Star for the Los Angeles Sparks; Osagie Imasogie, Chairman of the Investment Bank and registered Broker-Dealer, Quoin Capital and Quoin Advisors, and Ham Serunjogi, co-founder and CEO of Pan-African fintech, Chipper Cash, as members of the country’s advisory council on African diaspora engagement.

The trio and nine other African Americans will serve on the council until 2025. According to the White House, the council’s members are exceptional individuals who have worked in government, sports, creative industries, business, academia, social work, and faith-based activities.

The 12-member advisory council 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.

On December 13, 2022, President Biden signed an executive order directing the Secretary of State to establish an advisory council on African diaspora engagement in the United States as part of resolutions of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit held in Washington D.C.

Others on the Council include Almaz Negash, founder of the African Diaspora Network (ADN), an organisation with the mission of engaging Africans in the diaspora and fostering direct collaboration with social entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders; C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation; Silvester Beaman, 139th elected and consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; and Viola Davis, a critically revered actor, activist, philanthropist, and New York Times best-selling author. Davis has earned EGOT status through her Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and multi-Tony Award wins.

President Biden said: “The African diaspora in the U.S., a rich and diverse community of African Americans and African immigrants, is foundational to our 21st century partnership with Africa. These 12 leaders have all played important roles in strengthening United States-Africa relations and shaping United States foreign policy toward Africa.

“They reflect the diversity of the African diaspora from African American and African immigrant communities. I will rely on their advice and counsel on how we can strengthen cultural, social, political, and economic ties between African communities and the African diaspora.”

Ogwumike, who has always been passionate about her Nigerian heritage, in her reaction, said: “Best way to describe it; it feels like it’s the calling of a lifetime. It’s something so authentic to who I am, what I stand for and what I want to do for service. You can be exponentially impactful — calling of a lifetime for me.”

The 31-year-old Stanford graduate and WNBA player started her public advocacy for African women when she and her sister, Nneka, launched a UNICEF fundraiser in 2014, following the Chibok kidnapping of schoolgirls by Boko Haram.

Ogwumike, who is an NBA analyst for ESPN, is the youngest female on the council.

Serunjogi, who is a Ugandan native, said: “I look forward to advising President Biden on a range of issues, including how to strengthen relations between Africa and the United States, promoting trade and investment and building educational exchanges, among other issues.”

The same feeling and enthusiasm was expressed by Negash, whose visionary leadership of ADN has become a pivotal platform for various initiatives. The organisation is now home to the African Diaspora Investment Symposium (ADIS), a yearly event held in Silicon Valley, California, that brings together influential minds and changemakers.

ADN also spearheads programmes such as Builders of Africa’s Future, Accelerating Black Leadership & Entrepreneurship, and Impact & Innovation Forums.

Negash is currently devoted to mobilising Africans from the Diaspora, encouraging them to explore innovative approaches for diaspora engagement that go beyond remittances and extend to sustainable investments on the continent.