Biden appoints Nigerian-American, Okolo, as Covid-19 policy advisor

A NIGERIAN-American Osaremen Okolo has been appointed by U.S. President-elect, Joe Biden as a member of his Covid-19 Response Team.

According to a statement by the Biden transition team, Okolo, daughter of Nigerian immigrants, was named Covid policy advisor to the president-elect.

She is among the first 100 White House appointees named on Wednesday. She is the second Nigeria-born person to be so-appointed into the in-coming cabinet. Earlier, Adewale Adeyemo was named deputy treasury secretary.

The new appointee, whose parents are reportedly from Edo State, was born and raised in Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard College.

“Prior to joining the transition, Okolo served as Senior Health Policy Advisor to US Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois. Okolo drafted, negotiated, and managed the Congresswoman’s legislation, oversight, and policy across a comprehensive health care and public health agenda, most recently focusing almost exclusively on the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement reads.

Okolo had also served as legislative aide for health policy on the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labour, and Pensions for Ranking Member Patty Murray of Washington, the team added.

According to Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the COVID-19 Response Team will “work to quickly implement a comprehensive, whole-of-government COVID-19 response strategy to contain the pandemic, restore public trust, and protect all Americans.”