NIGERIAN-AMERICANS are celebrating another record making achievement of a female United States (US)-based Nigerian became a Judge of the State of California.
She is arguably the first Nigerian-born judge in the state, Empowered Newswire reports.
California State governor, Edmund Brown, at the weekend, announced that 48-year-old Nigerian-born Ms. Bunmi Awoniyi, would be joining the state’s equivalent of the Nigerian State High Court.
Her appointment has since been drawing out commendation and inspiration among US-based Nigerians and groups, many of who see it as another proof of the sterling qualities of Nigerians resident in the US.
Commenting, the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN), through its executive director, Mr Laolu Akande, also praised the appointment, saying that “Bunmi’s appointment is solid proof that there exists here in the US, a tremendous amount of great Nigerian-Americans.”
According to CANAN, in its reaction to the news, “Awoniyi is among our shining stars here in the Nigerian-American community and the contribution of people like her to the progress of this nation must confer a strong voice that cannot be ignored, even for the good name of our community here.”
Bunmi Awoniyi, who is based in Elk Grove, California is joining the California State Bench due to some vacancy and administrative court reforms. In California, judges in the Superior Court are elected, but not on party platforms to a six-year term, but the governor gets to make an appointment to the court when vacancies like this are created.
Commenting on Awoniyi’s appointment, a leading US-based Nigerian also in California, Dr Baba Adam, stressed the significance of Awoniyi’s appointment, saying that “this is a great ,this is also another outstanding landmark achievement for a Nigerian-Americans.
Adam said that California being the 8th largest economy in the world has recognized a Nigerian-American, with such an “impressive background,” is heart warming.
Awoniyi her self agreed, saying that “finally, we have a person of Nigerian descent on the bench in California, who happens to be a woman and a first generation immigrant to the USA.”