US President: Kamala Harris May Benefit Igbos in Nigeria

US Vice President Kamala Harris is the favourite to become the next president of the United States of America (USA). There are enough controversies around her to go round – even her emergence as the candidate of the Democratic Party instead of current president Joe Biden, is a conversation that hasn’t been fully exhausted. Yet, what may count most for people in this part of the world doesn’t get enough press. For starts, she has Nigerians in her family and they are of Igbo decent.

Harris’s niece Meena is married to Nikolas Ajagu, who is from the town of Nimo in Anambra State, Nigeria. Their marriage is blessed with two beautiful girls, Amara and Leela Ajagu. Not much is known about Nikolas, report says he is a top executive at Facebook and his father is Dr. Chris Ajagu. The connection seems sketchy, but i believe it may shape the Future of Nigerian politics eventually.

Born in Oakland, California, Harris’s parents, Donald and Shyamala, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica and India, respectively. Her mother, a biologist, was part of a research team that made groundbreaking discoveries on the progesterone receptor gene, leading to advances in breast cancer research. This diverse background has influenced Harris’s perspective on cultural exchange and diversity.

Harris attended Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington, D.C., where she graduated with a degree in political science and economics. Her undergraduate thesis explored the cultural and historical significance of the Igbo people’s experiences in the African diaspora, demonstrating an early interest in the Igbos.

As District Attorney of San Francisco, Harris worked with Nigerian-American prosecutors and law enforcement officials, fostering connections with the Igbo community which has good population there. Her policies focused on combating hate crimes, supporting affirmative action, and advocating for immigrant rights, which resonate with the Igbo values of community and social justice.

Harris has publicly acknowledged the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people, highlighting their resilience and contributions to the African diaspora. Her interactions with notable Igbo individuals, such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, demonstrate and reemphasize her appreciation for Igbo culture and its global impact.

If Kamala Harris makes it to the oval office in the next few weeks, it won’t come as a surprise if the dynamics of Nigerian politics took a new turn. The growing clamour for Biafra could suddenly start getting the international attention sought. Beyond that, the inevitable second clash of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr Peter Obi at the 2027 elections in Nigeria could present new twists.

America’s foreign policy over the years have proven to be a ship too big to significantly turn. Hence, despite all the connection between Kamala Harris and the Igbos, the reality of things may eventually be different with situations remaining as they are – President Barrack Obama is a good example. We can only analyse, cross our fingers and see what happens.