Adewale Adeyemo;  a 34 year-old Nigerian has been appointed US President,  Barack Obama’s deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs.

Adeyemo who served in Obama’s administration since 2009 is succeeding Caroline Atkinson. He joined the White House’s National Economic Council as deputy director and was Treasury’s lead negotiator on the currency agreement that was part of the Pacific trade deal.

“For the past four years, I have relied on Caroline Atkinson, most recently as my Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics, as we’ve navigated pressing challenges to the global economy.

“As my representative at the G-7 and G-20, she played a key role in coordinating our response to international financial crises, worked with our allies to devise and implement targeted economic sanctions to advance our national security goals, played a vital role in our economic engagements with China, and helped to achieve breakthrough agreements on climate that will strengthen our economy and our security.

“I’ve relied on, and benefited from, Caroline’s knowledge and judgment and, as she concludes” A statement by Obama reads.