Nigeria: Nigerian-Born Emehelu Makes History As New Jersey's Lieutenant Governor

What the report says

Nigerian-born American lawyer Shirley U. Emehelu has been appointed lieutenant governor of New Jersey, a move reported by Vanguard and distributed by AllAfrica as a historic first for an immigrant in that role. The appointment was made by Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Monday, and Emehelu also took on the post of secretary of state. The report says the state’s two top executive offices are now held by women at the same time for the first time.

According to the article, Emehelu emigrated from Nigeria as a child and was sworn in at the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, with her family present. Sherrill said she chose Emehelu because of her experience in public service, including work on financial crimes, consumer protection, civil rights and efforts to reduce government waste. The report also notes that Emehelu had been serving as acting secretary of state and helped oversee recent elections.

Emehelu said the appointment reflected both her professional record and her Nigerian and Black heritage, and that she hoped it would encourage younger people to pursue public service. She said her priorities include helping address living costs, improving economic opportunity and making government more responsive. The report adds that she previously served as New Jersey’s acting state comptroller, an executive assistant attorney general, and a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.