Tag: African Achievers

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Boubini Miyensinte Jones-Wonni | 22 year Old NIgerian is best graduating Medical Student in Howard University, gains scholarship to Harvard Medical School

By Ebimo Amungo

Boubini Miyensinte Jones-Wonni, a 22 year old Nigerian has not only become the youngest and best graduting student of Howard University she has also won a scholarship to Havard for her residency program in internal medicine

Jones-Wonni was born in Ido-ani, a town in Ondo state , Nigeria, on the 23rd of October 1999 to the family of Dr and Mrs Jones-Wonni. She hails from Arogbo Ese- Odo local government area of Ondo State.

Continue reading “Boubini Miyensinte Jones-Wonni | 22 year Old NIgerian is best graduating Medical Student in Howard University, gains scholarship to Harvard Medical School” →
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Nigerian-Americans Serving in the Biden Administration recognised for their excellence

By Ebimo Amungo

The professionals among the Nigerian community in America recently organised an event where a number Nigerian-Americans in the Biden Administration were recognized for their excellence.

News of the event was brought to light in a tweet by Dr. Ngozi Okonji-Iweala, the Director-General of World Trade Organisation.

Continue reading “Nigerian-Americans Serving in the Biden Administration recognised for their excellence” →
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America’s first Somali mayor Deqa Dhalac hopes to inspire immigrants, youths and women

By Brooke Anderson | The New Arab

When Deqa Dhalac became mayor of South Portland, Maine at the end of last year, making her what is believed to be America’s first Somali American mayor, it was after many years of working to make a difference, starting with her upbringing in her country of origin.

She was raised in an educated family that encouraged her to learn languages, history and politics, skills that would be useful after she left for a new life in the United States in 1990, just prior to the civil war.

Continue reading “America’s first Somali mayor Deqa Dhalac hopes to inspire immigrants, youths and women” →
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How this Ghanaian rose from a cleaner in U.S. to the White House and now set to be a neurosurgeon

By Mildred Europa Taylor | Face 2 Face Africa

Kwadwo Sarpong arrived in the United States from Ghana in 2009. He had won a green card to come to the U.S. and was already a first-year university student in Ghana. So, his idea was to transfer to a four-year school in the U.S. straight away.

But things didn’t go as planned for the Ghanaian student. Upon his arrival in the U.S., Sarpong realized that transferring to a four-year institution in the U.S. was virtually impossible. Meanwhile, he needed to take care of himself and his family back home in Ghana, so for his first three years in the U.S., he cleaned hospital floors and worked at Walmart.

Continue reading “How this Ghanaian rose from a cleaner in U.S. to the White House and now set to be a neurosurgeon” →
Appointments

Lewiston pharmacist to be first Somali American on Maine Board of Pharmacy


BY JOAQUIN CONTRERAS | SUN JOURNAL

LEWISTON — Inspired in part by his time in a refugee camp in Kenya, a Lewiston man last month was the first Somali American appointed to the Maine Board of Pharmacy.

Abdifatah Ahmed, a pharmacist who works in Gardiner and is co-founder of Lewiston-based Maine Community Integration, was appointed to the board Feb. 23 and will be formally inducted April 1.

Continue reading “Lewiston pharmacist to be first Somali American on Maine Board of Pharmacy” →
Achievements

African immigrants on the 2022 Forbes under 30 list

 By Michelle Ezenduka | nairametrics

The 2022 Forbes under 30 list features successful people in the world under the age of 30, who are of African origin and have gone to do well for themselves. In this list, we see Africans as young as 21 years, who have made great impact in their chosen fields and are being recognized for their efforts.

Continue reading “African immigrants on the 2022 Forbes under 30 list” →
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Somali American running star Abdi Bile is a world-champion mentor

By Laura Yuen | Star Tribune

In Mohamed Abdi Mohamed’s childhood, Abdi Bile was like a folk hero.”My mom told me all these stories,” says Mohamed, 26, who was born in Somalia and grew up in a refugee camp. “She told me there’s a Somali who went to America and basically conquered America.”

Bile was a world champion runner, dominating the 1,500-meter race in the late 1980s. He’s also a national legend and the most decorated athlete in the history of Somalia, where a certain make of pickup truck has been dubbed the “Abdi Bile” for its speed.

Continue reading “Somali American running star Abdi Bile is a world-champion mentor” →
Appointments

Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile | Nigerian-American elected as lifetime member of U.S. Council on Foreign Relations

By BusinessDay

Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile, the E.J. Ball Professor of Law, has been elected a lifetime member of the prestigious United States Council on Foreign Relations, one of the leading foreign policy organizations in the world. Her election was announced by the University of Arkansas School of Law in a press statement. Ofodile becomes one of the few Arkansans and Africans to be elected a member of the esteemed organization.

Continue reading “Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile | Nigerian-American elected as lifetime member of U.S. Council on Foreign Relations” →
Appointments

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Nigerian-Born Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo as Florida Surgeon General

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD, as Florida Surgeon General and Secretary of the Florida Department of Health. Dr. Ladapo was recently granted a professorship at the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine. Prior to joining UF, he served as an associate professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) caring for hospitalized patients.

Continue reading “Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Nigerian-Born Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo as Florida Surgeon General” →
Achievements

Aristide Gumyusenge | Rwandan appointed professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

By Sharon Kantengwa | The New Times

A US-based Rwandan researcher, Aristide Gumyusenge, has been appointed as a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the department of materials science, making him the only black faculty member in the department.

Continue reading “Aristide Gumyusenge | Rwandan appointed professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology” →
Achievements

Ime Umanah | Nigerian-American elected first black woman president of Harvard Law Review

By The Conclave

The prestigious Harvard Law Review has elected its first black woman president in its 130-year history. She Ime Umanah, 24, daughter of a Nigerian immigrant.

Continue reading “Ime Umanah | Nigerian-American elected first black woman president of Harvard Law Review” →
Appointments

Osaremen Okolo | Biden Names Nigerian-American As COVID-19 Advisor – Sahel Standard

By Sahel Standard Magazine  

President-Elect of the United States, Joe Biden, has named a Nigerian-American, Osaremen Okolo as one of his COVID-19 policy advisor. Okolo was among 100 names announced as additional members of the White House staff by the Biden transition team.

Continue reading “Osaremen Okolo | Biden Names Nigerian-American As COVID-19 Advisor – Sahel Standard” →
Appointments

Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo | President-Elect Joe Biden names Nigerian-American as Deputy Treasury Secretary

By Ebimo Amungo

President-elect Joe Biden named key members of his economic team on Monday, and among them is Nigerian-born Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo who was announced as Deputy Treasury Secretary. Janet Yellen  was nominated as treasury secretary along with three other women in top roles on a diverse team that will help him navigate the nation’s punishing fiscal headwinds in hopes of building an economic recovery

Continue reading “Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo | President-Elect Joe Biden names Nigerian-American as Deputy Treasury Secretary” →
Achievements

Edafe Okporo| Nigerian refugee is one of the inaugural recipients of the $200,000 David Prize for his efforts to end homelessness in America

BY NATE BERG | Fast Company

After fleeing homophobic violence and repression in Nigeria in 2016, public health and gay rights activist Edafe Okporo came to the United States to seek asylum. He spent five months in detention before being released one night with nowhere to go. His only option was a homeless shelter, the first of several he’d stay in before eventually finding a job that got him on his feet.

Continue reading “Edafe Okporo| Nigerian refugee is one of the inaugural recipients of the $200,000 David Prize for his efforts to end homelessness in America” →
Opinion

Kelechi Madu |A Worthy Ambassador of Nigeria

Editorial by The Nation Newspaper

HE is a Nigerian-born Canadian leader of whom his country of birth is proud. Kaycee (Kelechi) Madu just made history as the first person of African origin to be appointed Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General of Alberta, a province of Canada. His appointment to that office was not only historic, he has a historic mission and came a long way in his professional career and public service in his country of domicile to attain that height.

Continue reading “Kelechi Madu |A Worthy Ambassador of Nigeria” →
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Tomi Adeyemi | Meet 27 Yr Old Nigerian Woman More Influential Than Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy.

by JIDE OKONJO  | VOCAL

For years now, TIME Magazine has been known for compiling a very prestigious annual list of the year’s Most Influential People in the world. It is a list that celebrities, influencers, entrepreneurs, politicians, and more from all works of life and from all over the world clamor for a spot on. In it’s long run, the magazine has seen a number of Nigerian names grace its list. People like Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie have been recognized at one time or another as one of the Most Influential People in the world.

Continue reading “Tomi Adeyemi | Meet 27 Yr Old Nigerian Woman More Influential Than Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy.” →
Achievements

Nigerian Born Charles Osuji Among Top 25 Most Influential Canadian Lawyers, 2020

By Peters Ifeoma | DNL Legal and Style

Nigerian Born lawyer, Charles Osuji has been voted one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada by Canadian Lawyer. He is the first Nigerian-born, internationally-trained lawyer to receive this Award after a few years of relocating to Canada.

Continue reading “Nigerian Born Charles Osuji Among Top 25 Most Influential Canadian Lawyers, 2020” →
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Kelechi Madu| Nigerian President Buhari congratulates new Minister of Justice of Alberta

by APA News | Journal du Cameroun

Nigerian President Mohammed Buhari has sent a congratulatory message to Mr. Kelechi Madu following his recent appointment as Minister of Justice of the province of Alberta, in Canada.

Continue reading “Kelechi Madu| Nigerian President Buhari congratulates new Minister of Justice of Alberta” →
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Sharon Njeri Wambu | Kenyan-American Teen Who was accepted to 11 Ivy League Universities Settles for Stanford

By John Wanjohi | Mwakilishi.com

Sharon Njeri Wambu, a Kenyan-American teenager who received acceptance to 11 top universities including Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Cal Poly Pomona, and Vanderbilt after completing her high school education earlier this year has finally opted to attend Stanford University.

Continue reading “Sharon Njeri Wambu | Kenyan-American Teen Who was accepted to 11 Ivy League Universities Settles for Stanford” →
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Dambisa Moyo | The Global Thought Leader from Zambia

By Ebimo Amungo

Dr. Dambisa Moyo is an intellectual juggernaut who has sparred with Bill Gates, challenged ideological frameworks on which the world economy stands, and raised alarm that the world is tethering on the edge of chaos. And with four New York Times bestselling books, board membership of several companies, a continuous stream of appearances in the world’s leading media as well as countless public speaking engagements, this Zambian-born economist is arguably one of the foremost thought leaders in the world.

Continue reading “Dambisa Moyo | The Global Thought Leader from Zambia” →
Achievements

Dr. Theo Nyame | Ghanaian-born Plastic Surgeon named 2020 Top Doctor Award winner by Charlotte Magazine

By Ebimo Amungo

Dr. Theo Nyame, a Ghanaian-born Plastic Surgeon has been named one of the honorees of the Top Doctor Award by Charlotte Magazine. This is the second year in a row that the Harvard Medical School trained doctor has been named Top Plastic Surgeon in the Charlotte area by the magazine.

Continue reading “Dr. Theo Nyame | Ghanaian-born Plastic Surgeon named 2020 Top Doctor Award winner by Charlotte Magazine” →
Achievements

Kika Otiono receives praise from Nigeria’s High Commissioner for academic performance at Carleton University

By Gregory Austin Nwakunor | The Guardian

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Adeyinka Asekun, has commended Kika Otiono, daughter of prominent Nigerian author and professor, Nduka Otiono, for her sterling academic accomplishments while at Carleton University. Otiono received a third-year undergraduate offer of admission to the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University and is now a first year medical student there.

Continue reading “Kika Otiono receives praise from Nigeria’s High Commissioner for academic performance at Carleton University” →
Achievements

Nigerians, Somalian, Rwandan and Ghanaian among recipients of Canada’s Vanier and Banting Awards

By Ebimo Amungo

Four Nigerians, a Somalian, a Ghanaian and a Rwandan are among researchers announced as the 2020-2021 recipients of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships, Canada’s most prized awards for PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, respectively.

Vanier Scholarships are valued at $50,000 per year for three years during doctoral studies, while Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are worth $70,000 per year for two years.

Continue reading “Nigerians, Somalian, Rwandan and Ghanaian among recipients of Canada’s Vanier and Banting Awards” →
Achievements

Stella Damasus’ daughter bags Columbia varsity scholarship

By Kehinde Ajose  | News Guru

Angelica, daughter of popular Nigerian actress, Stella Damasus, has bagged a scholarship to study at Columbia University after graduating as a valedictorian at a high school in the US.

Continue reading “Stella Damasus’ daughter bags Columbia varsity scholarship” →
American Odessey

Elon Musk: South African-born billionaire says ‘America is the land of opportunity – there is no other country where I could have done this’

By Taylor Locke | CNBC

Growing up in South Africa, Elon Musk  read plenty of books but was especially inspired by science fiction.  The genre motivated him to create “cleaner energy technology or [build] spaceships to extend the human species’s reach” in the future, according to the book “Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future” by Ashlee Vance.

Continue reading “Elon Musk: South African-born billionaire says ‘America is the land of opportunity – there is no other country where I could have done this’” →
Achievements

Nigerian-Canadian, Chika Oriuwa, named valedictorian of University of Toronto’s faculty of medicine

By Talia Ricci | CBC News

Nigerian-Canadian Chika Stacy Oriuwa has wanted to be a doctor since she was a small child. When she started medical school at the University of Toronto four years ago, she was the only black person in a class of 259 students. On Tuesday, June 2nd, she graduates as valedictorian. In doing so, she becomes just the second black woman valedictorian and the first woman in 14 years to receive the honour.

Continue reading “Nigerian-Canadian, Chika Oriuwa, named valedictorian of University of Toronto’s faculty of medicine” →
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Meet Dr. Menna Demessie: The Ethiopian-American Vice President at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

Menna Demessie is the Vice President of Policy Analysis and Research at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. She also serves on the advisory board of APSA’s Congressional Fellowship Program. She talks to Political Science Now about how a Political Science PhD prepared her for her new role

By Political Science Now

Continue reading “Meet Dr. Menna Demessie: The Ethiopian-American Vice President at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation” →
Achievements

Kenyan Journalist Larry Madowo scoops prestigious Philip Greer Award from Columbia University

By NANCY AGUTU | The Star

Media Personality Larry Madowo has been crowned the winner of the 2020 Philip Greer Award for his Financial Writing at the Columbia University in New York. Madowo, who was the British Broadcasting Corporation Africa Business Editor, was admitted to Columbia University back in April 2019.

He was admitted to the prestigious university as a Knight-Bagehot Fellow in the class of 2019-2020. 

Continue reading “Kenyan Journalist Larry Madowo scoops prestigious Philip Greer Award from Columbia University” →
Achievements

Ghanaian-American, Kyle Ayisi accepted into 14 colleges in US, including five Ivy League Schools

By MOHAMMED AWAL | Face2Face Africa

Kyle Ayisi, a Ghanaian-American teenager, has every right to be in a celebratory mood, after being accepted into 14 colleges and universities in the United States, including five Ivy League Schools. Some of the schools Ayisi gained admission into were Princeton, Columbia, Yale, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Washington University, Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt.

Continue reading “Ghanaian-American, Kyle Ayisi accepted into 14 colleges in US, including five Ivy League Schools” →
Achievements

Cynthia and Jasmine Kudji: Ghanaian mother and Daughter Graduate from Medical School in same Year

By Briefly

Ghanaian-born Dr Cynthia Kudji and her daughter, Jasmine, have etched their names in the history books by becoming the first mom and daughter duo to graduate from medical school in the same year and be matched at the same institution in the United States for their residency.

Continue reading “Cynthia and Jasmine Kudji: Ghanaian mother and Daughter Graduate from Medical School in same Year” →