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A Nigerian Man, 29, Elected As New York Albany County Legislator
Beroro Efekoro, a 29-year-old Nigerian has been elected as an Albany County legislator in New York. This is happening 11-years after he moved from Nigeria to New York with his father and siblings.
Efekoro moved to Albany in 2012 to pursue a degree in political science at the University at Albany. He defeated the incumbent Albany Democrat Bullock Doug in the November General election and will now represent the 7th legislative district, which is made up of Pine Hills and the Beverwyck neighborhoods in Albany.
Efekoro became a U.S. citizen in 2014while still in the University. He began a nonprofit International Organization for Education to assist the student to succeed in school. When he graduated in 2015, he became a committee person by Carolyn McLaughlin who was then-chairwoman of the Albany County Democratic Committee.
He currently serves as deputy ward leader for the 11th ward, but unsuccessfully contested for the common Council’s 11th ward seat against Democratic challengers Alfredo Balarin and incumbent Judd Krasher and Clifton Dixon in 2017.
The Nigerian man will be the first Nigerian-born politician to hold office in the country as he joins the 39-member body.
He spoke on his victory;
“I’m very excited to jump in and get to work on my first day. I am also looking to put in some initiatives that would better improve education in the neighborhood.
“I’ve been involved in community service almost all my life. I got elected as my senior class president one year after I arrived in the U.S. I got involved in the Democratic process even before I became a citizen. I was making calls to Congress and calls to people to support the Affordable Care Act, to go out and vote for President Barack Obama.”