Nigerian Appointed City Administrator In U.S.

pmnews-placeholder

A Nigerian, Ms Bola Akande, has emerged the first African to be appointed the City Administrator of Brentwood in the state of Missouri, U.S.

Akande beat 40 other contenders to clinch the appointment.

City officials said in a statement that she had a 19-year track record of serving large, mid-size and small municipalities.

Akande’s first task since assuming office this month would be to prepare the 2012 budget for the City of Brentwood.

Her other duties include co-ordination of federal and state governments’ programmes for Brentwood as well as the work of elected officials of the city.

She will also establish and initiate city policies and serve as its accounting officer.

Before moving to Brentwood, Akande spent six years as the assistant administrator in Richmond Heights.

Previously, she held administrative positions in The Woodlands, Texas, Flower Mound, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

In addition to her work responsibilities, Akande is a member of several professional organisations, including the City/County Management Association.

She was quoted as saying that she would engage with constituents and the Board of Alderman and city staff to solicit ideas and formulate proposals to improve the city’s operation.

“The City of Brentwood is in good shape financially and offers its residents an assortment of outstanding municipal services,” she said.

In a congratulatory message, the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Prof. Ade Adefuye, said Akande’s well-deserved elevation was a testimony of “hard work, wealth of experience and antecedents as a woman of substance and uncommon courage.

“I am supremely confident that your rich background will prepare you creditably in the discharge of this onerous responsibility to the benefit of your constituency.

“I want to assure you that President Goodluck Jonathan is pleased to learn of this appointment, coming at a time when the image of the country received a positive boost following our successful conclusion of the April elections.”

Akande is a daughter of Rev. S.T. Ola Akande, the former General Secretary of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.

She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Load more