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Minnesota Gov Appoints Nigerian to Council
- By Williams Ekanem
- Published May 11th, 2010
- Washington File
- Unrated
MINNESOTA State governor in the United States of America, Mr. Tim Pawlenty has announced the appointments of Nnamdi Okoronkwo to the Council on Black Minnesotans.
Okoronkwo was among six other appointees the governor announced on April 16. Okoronkwo, an assistant city attorney with the City of Minneapolis, is a son of a Nigerian immigrant. In the past, Okoronkwo worked with Best Buy Company as a corporate attorney, and was a Hennepin County District Court law clerk.
He has also served in the Volunteer Lawyer Network as a pro bono attorney. Okoronkwo holds a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law and a bachelor of arts from Augsburg College.
The Council appoints two members whose ethnic heritages are from Eastern and Western Africa. Ali replaces Mohamud Noor as a member from East Africa while Okoronkwo will replace Gloria Lamphear as a member from West Africa. .
Also appointed is Ali Ayderus, an Ethiopian who is a Somali court interpreter. He serves in state, federal, U.S. Immigration courts, and a linguist with the U.S. Department of Justice. Ali attended the University of Minnesota and the Abassia Institute of Technical College in Cairo, Egypt.
The Council on Black Minnesotans was created by the Minnesota legislature to advise the Governor and legislature on issues that are confronting black Minnesotans. It consists of 17 members, 13 of which are appointed by the Governor.
Both Ali and Okoronkwo will serve for a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.
Okoronkwo was among six other appointees the governor announced on April 16. Okoronkwo, an assistant city attorney with the City of Minneapolis, is a son of a Nigerian immigrant. In the past, Okoronkwo worked with Best Buy Company as a corporate attorney, and was a Hennepin County District Court law clerk.
He has also served in the Volunteer Lawyer Network as a pro bono attorney. Okoronkwo holds a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law and a bachelor of arts from Augsburg College.
The Council appoints two members whose ethnic heritages are from Eastern and Western Africa. Ali replaces Mohamud Noor as a member from East Africa while Okoronkwo will replace Gloria Lamphear as a member from West Africa. .
Also appointed is Ali Ayderus, an Ethiopian who is a Somali court interpreter. He serves in state, federal, U.S. Immigration courts, and a linguist with the U.S. Department of Justice. Ali attended the University of Minnesota and the Abassia Institute of Technical College in Cairo, Egypt.
The Council on Black Minnesotans was created by the Minnesota legislature to advise the Governor and legislature on issues that are confronting black Minnesotans. It consists of 17 members, 13 of which are appointed by the Governor.
Both Ali and Okoronkwo will serve for a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.
