Biden appoints Nigerian-born Ebong as acting director of USTDA

United States President Joe Biden has appointed Nigerian-born Enoh Titilayo Ebong as the acting director of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

The appointment was announced on Tuesday.

Ebong had served in different roles as general counsel, deputy director and chief operating officer at USTDA between 2004 and 2019.

From there, she moved to serve as the head of strategic partnerships at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.

With her new role, Ebong is expected to lead the agency in partnering with the country’s 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 Biden’s vision of strengthening the US economy.

“It is an honor to return to USTDA. The opportunity to lead the Agency comes at a critical moment when the world is turning to the United States for leadership on clean energy and climate-smart infrastructure, as well as safe and secure ICT solutions,” Ebong said, according to a statement issued by the agency.

“The Agency is one of the most effective, targeted and proven tools within the U.S. government. I’ve long believed in USTDA’s mission and program, 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.”

Ebong grew up in Lagos. Her father, Ime James Ebong, was a Nigerian civil servant who served as permanent secretary.

She practised law at the Boston office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris and Popeo, P.C., 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, Biden had appointed Nigerian-born Adewale Adeyemo as deputy secretary of the treasury department.

He also appointed Funmi Olorunnipa Badejo into his cabinet as white house counsel, as well as Osaremen Okolo as a member of his COVID-19 response team.