The Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, has announced the appointment of a Nigerian, Ms. Shola Olatoye, as the new Chairman of the New York City Housing Authority.
A local media announcement monitored by the North America correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, stated that prior to her appointment, Olatoye was the Vice President and market leader for Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
She oversaw a cross-functional team of approximately 50, as they worked with community partners, the public sector and private capital sources to build and preserve approximately 3,000 affordable homes per year.
Previously, Olatoye was deputy director and director of relationship management, leading production efforts and helping to develop new products and solutions, originating new business and overseeing relationship management for Enterprise’s many partners in New York.
Before joining Enterprise in 2009, Olatoye was a vice president and senior community development manager with HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
In that capacity, she managed the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) programme of lending, investment and service in low-and moderate-income communities in Washington D.C., and South Florida.
Also, she was a director with a prominent New York City real estate advisory and economic development consulting firm.
Her practice areas included urban neighbourhood revitalisation, real estate advisory services, park finance and strategic planning.
Olatoye also served as the issues director for New York City public advocate for former Democratic mayoral nominee, Mark Green.
She also spent five years in New York as an advocate and policy analyst for urban school finance reform.
Olatoye received her bachelor’s degree in history with honours from Wesleyan University and her Master of Public Administration from New York University.
