Biden appoints another Nigerian into a top post naming Enoh Ebong as acting head of USTDA

PRESIDENT Joe Biden has appointed another Nigerian to a prominent position in his administration naming Enoh Ebong as the new acting director of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

A civil servant who rose up to the ranks of deputy director within the USTDA, Ms Ebong served in different roles as general counsel, deputy director and chief operating officer within the agency between 2004 and 2019. A lawyer by training, she grew up in Lagos, where her father, Ime James Ebong, was a Nigerian civil servant who served as permanent secretary.

With her new role, Ms Ebong is expected to lead the USTDA in partnering with the private sector in order to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies. During her swearing-in ceremony, she said the mission of the agency aligns with President Biden’s vision of strengthening the US economy.

Ms Ebong said: “It is an honour to return to the USTDA. The opportunity to lead the agency comes at a critical moment when the world is turning to the US for leadership on clean energy and climate-smart infrastructure, as well as safe and secure ICT solutions.

“The agency is one of the most effective, targeted and proven tools within the US government. I’ve long believed in the USTDA’s mission and programme, which are fully aligned with the president’s vision of strengthening our economy and addressing climate as an essential component of American foreign policy and national security.”

In the past, Ms Ebong has practised law at the Boston office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris and Popeo, representing public and private companies in public offerings, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions. She earned a juris doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, a master of arts in communication from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and a master of arts in History from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

In November, President Biden had appointed Nigerian-born Adewale Adeyemo as deputy secretary of the treasury department. He also appointed Funmi Olorunnipa Badejo as White House counsel, as well as Osaremen Okolo as a member of his Covid-19 response team.