U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated Nigerian-born U.S. Attorney Enoh Titilayo Ebong as the Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency.
Her appointment was contained in an updated list of new appointments, which Biden sent to the U.S. Congress on Thursday, October 14.
Once appended by the Congress, Ebong will resume full appointment as the Director of the USTDA, just months after serving as the Acting Director.
The USTDA is a U.S. agency that helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies.
USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
Prior to her former appointment as the acting Director in February 2021, Ebong had served in different roles at the USTDA since joining in 2004.
She worked as the agency’s Attorney–Advisor from 2004 to 2007, acting Regional Sub-Director for Sub-Saharan Africa from 2007 to 2007, Assistant General Counsel from 2008 to 2010, Deputy General Counsel from 2010 to 2013, General Counsel from 2013 to 2015, Acting Director in 2017, and Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer from 2015 to 2019.
When she was appointed as Acting Director in February, Ebong expressed her excitement and said being given an opportunity to lead the agency is an honor.
“It is an honor to return to the 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,” she said at the swearing-in ceremony.
“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 earned her J.D. 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, with honors, from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is a member of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bar.
