Olubanke King Akerele

Olubanke King Akerele
Akerele at the African Union Summit in 2008
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 2007 – November 3, 2010
Preceded by	George Wallace
Succeeded by	Toga G. McIntosh
Minister of Commerce and Industry
In office 2006–2007
Personal details
Born	May 11, 1946 (1946-05-11) (age 65)
Nationality	Liberian

Olubanke King Akerele (born May 11, 1946) is a Liberian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from October 2007 until her resignation on 3 November 2010. She is the granddaughter of Liberia's 16th president, Charles D. B. King.

Akerele studied at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and graduated from Brandeis University in Massachusetts, United States with a B.A. in economics. She earned her first M.A. from Northeastern University in manpower economics, then a second M.A. from Columbia University in economics of education. Akerele also completed her first year at the University of Liberia Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law. She later served for over 20 years at the United Nations.

Upon the election of Sirleaf as president in 2005, Akerele was appointed as the Minister of Commerce and Industry. Following a 2007 cabinet shakeup, she replaced veteran diplomat George Wallace as Minister of Foreign Affairs. On 3 November 2010, Sirleaf dismissed her entire cabinet, including Akerele. She resigned that same day. Following the appointment of Toga G. McIntosh as Akerele's successor, Sirleaf disclosed that Akerele had resigned in order to receive medical treatment for an undisclosed illness.

Source

• "Liberian leader reshuffles cabinet" 24 August 2007, IOL.co.za
• "President Sirleaf Calls Newly Reconstituted Cabinet ‘The Right People for the Job’" 4 December 2010, emansion.gov.lr

External links

• Profile at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Persondata
Name	Akerele Olubanke King
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1946-05-11
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death