President Obama Appoints 34-year Old Nigerian As Deputy National Security Adviser

 

Adewale

 

President Barack Obama has appointed  34-year old Nigerian, Adewale 'Wally' Adeyemo  to succeed Caroline Atkinson as his deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs.

 

Adeyemo whose parents immigrated to the United States when he was a child,  has served in Obama's administration since 2009  in top roles at the Treasury Department. He joined the White House's National Economic Council as deputy director. He was the Treasury's lead negotiator on the currency agreement that was part of the Pacific trade deal.

 

Obama in a statement said 

 "For the past four years, I have relied on Caroline Atkinson, most recently as my Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics, as we've navigated pressing challenges to the global economy....

I am grateful that Caroline's work will be carried on by Adewale "Wally" Adeyemo, who has served in my administration since 2009. At the Treasury Department, he was part of the team that helped coordinate our response to the global recession, laying the foundation for renewed growth at home and abroad.

He helped establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and he's been our point person on a range of international economic issues, including negotiations on strong currency agreements around the Trans Pacific Partnership. I will be calling on Wally's intellect, judgment and dedication as we sustain America's global economic leadership, which reinforces our national security, and as we work with allies and partners around the world to create jobs and opportunity for all our people."

 

Adeyemo holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and another degree from Yale Law School.

Like his predecessor, Caroline Atkinson, Adeyemo will handle international financial crises and climate change deliberations and serve as chief U.S. representative at the G-7 and G-20.

 

I pray that we come to that era here in Nigeria when youths in their  30s,who have made something of themselves, are given opportunity to serve. We tend to re-circle the old back here in Nigeria, but then expect different and better results.

The attainment of 34-year old Adewale  should be a challenge to the youths to rise to their full potentials, and the government to actually make use of the 'leaders of tomorrow' because Today is Yesterday's Tomorrow, That Tomorrow is Now and it is time for the youths to lead.