Peter Obi, an entrepreneur and politician announced his joy on his LinkedIn account after Dr. Ije Akunyili was appointed Chief Medical Officer of the US State Department of Health.
This is a proud achievement for the Nigerian community, as Dr. Akunyili is the first Nigerian to attain such a position in the US.
With his post, Obi applauded Dr. Akunyili for her hard work, dedication, and passion for medicine. He further highlighted that her appointment is a milestone as it represents a major step forward for the Nigerian Diaspora in the US.
It is remarkable how far Akunyili has taken her career in medicine despite the odds. Born in Nigeria, She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania and attended the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
In addition, Dr. Akunyili earned an MPA in international development from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr Akunyili has vast leadership and advocacy experience and is currently serving as the President of the Connecticut College of Emergency Physicians (CCEP).
She then went on to achieve greater milestones in her profession,
She was an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, and she is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale University.
Considering her tenacity and hard work, Obi believes it is only right to celebrate Dr. Akunyili and her momentous achievement. He hopes she will be a positive example and an inspiration to Nigerians in the diaspora, and he encouraged others to follow in her footsteps so that together, we can make an even greater impact in the medical world.
Obi’s post has gone viral, and it is receiving an overwhelming amount of support from Africans in the Diaspora who are proud of Dr. Akunyili’s accomplishment. Many of them took to his post to applaud her for her courage and hard work in attaining such an incredible achievement.
With that being said, this appointment is a win for the entire Nigerian community. We would like to congratulate Dr. Ije Akunyili for her remarkable milestone and success, and wish her all the best in her new position.
