President Obama appoints Nigerian Adewale Adeyemo as deputy national security adviser

NIGERIAN Adewale Adeyemo has been appointed as the new US deputy national security adviser for international affairs by President Barack Obama to succeed the outgoing Caroline Atkinson.

 

In a major source of pride for the US diaspora, Mr Adeyemo, 34, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley and another degree from Yale Law School, assumes his appointment immediately.  Mr Adeyemo has served in the Obama administration since 2009 having joined the White House’s National Economic Council as deputy director and later becoming the Treasury’s Department's  lead negotiator on the currency agreement that was part of the Pacific trade deal.

President Obama 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. As my representative at the G-7 and G-20, she played a key role in coordinating our response to international financial crises, worked with our allies to devise and implement targeted economic sanctions to advance our national security goals, played a vital role in our economic engagements with China and helped to achieve breakthrough agreements on climate that will strengthen our economy and our security.

“I’ve relied on and benefited from Caroline’s knowledge and judgment and, as she concludes her tenure on my national security team, I am deeply appreciative of her service. I am grateful that Caroline’s work will be carried on by Adewale Adeyemo, who has served in my administration since 2009.

 

According to the president, at the Treasury Department, Mr Adeyemo was part of the team that helped coordinate the US response to the global recession, laying the foundation for renewed growth at home and abroad. He also helped establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  and has been Washington's point person on a range of international economic issues, including negotiations on strong currency agreements around the Trans Pacific Partnership.

 

President Obama said he will be calling on Mr Adeyemo's intellect, judgment and dedication as he seeks to sustain America’s global economic leadership. This he said reinforces American national security and as Washington works with its allies and partners around the world to create jobs and opportunity for its entire people.