Nigerian-born Uzoma Asagwara becomes Manitoba’s first black health minister and deputy premier

Uzoma Chioma Asagwara, a Nigerian-Canadian citizen, was sworn in as the new Health Minister and Deputy Premier of the province of Manitoba, Canada on Wednesday.

Asagwara, a psychiatric nurse and community activist, is the first black to achieve this position, having served out her Legislature tenure as the first black in that position in the Province of Manitoba and Canada.

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The 39-year-old and native of Umuahia was elected in September 2019 into the Manitoba Legislative Assembly to represent Union Station in Canada making her the first black queer person to win a seat in the assembly.

During her tenure as a legislator, Uzoma Asagwara championed various healthcare and social justice initiatives, including mental health reforms, equitable healthcare access, and addressing systemic inequalities within the province.

Asagwara’s dedication to public service and her unwavering commitment to healthcare and community welfare have been widely recognized, making her a choice for the role of Health Minister and Deputy Premier in the province of Manitoba.