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Mshale - The African Community Newspaper
www.mshale.com
October 2-8, 2023 Issue 594
WNBA player Chiney Ogwumike named to President Biden’s council on African diplomacy By Doug Feinberg Associated Press Chiney Ogwumike has always been passionate about her Nigerian heritage. Now she’s getting a chance to help all of Africa as a member of the inaugural President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States, the White House announced Tuesday.
so that they can transform their lives the same way I experienced it,” Ogwumike said. “I had the best of both worlds, with Nigerian determination and American opportunities that are endless. It’s a pathway for youth to change their lives to empower themselves.”
The council, which was first announced by Vice President Kamala Harris at the 2022 U.S.-Africa “Best way to describe it, it feels like its a Leaders Summit, will be chaired calling of a lifetime,” Ogwumike told The by Rev. Dr. Silvester Beaman of Associated Press in a phone interview the African Methodist Episcopal Tuesday. “It’s something so authentic to who I am and what I stand for and Church. Other council members, what I want to do for service. You can who will serve until 2025, include be exponentially impactful — calling of a Oscar-winning actress Viola lifetime for me.” Davis. The 31-year-old Stanford graduate and WNBA player started her Ogwumike, who is an NBA analyst public advocacy for African wom- for ESPN, is the youngest female en when she and her sister Nneka on the council. launched a UNICEF fundraiser in 2014 following the kidnapping of They will provide invaluable guidance to reinforce cultural, social, Nigerian girls by Boko Haram. political, and economic ties between the U.S. and Africa, and “It creates opportunities for kids and young people that look like m promote trade, investment, and educational exchanges between
Los Angeles Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike (13) celebrates after a three-pointer during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury in Los Angeles, Friday, May 19, 2023. Ogwumike has always been passionate about her Nigerian heritage. Now she’s getting a chance to help all of Africa as a member of the inaugural President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States, the White House announced Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. Photo: Ashley Landis/AP FIle
the United States and Africa. Ogwumike spoke at the UN General Assembly last year and heard about the council and wanted to be part of it.
“I talked about the power of sports and how it could transform the world,” she said. “I submitted my resume and had my fingers crossed.”
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