US-based Nigerian nurse makes history as first Black African to lead Oregon nursing regulator
In a quiet but significant step forward for diversity in American healthcare leadership, a nurse originally from Nigeria has been elected president of the Oregon State Board of Nursing, becoming the first Black African to hold the position.
Olanike Towobola, DNP, RN now heads the OSBN. The agency, which operates independently under state law, licenses and regulates more than 70,000 nurses and nursing assistants across Oregon, setting standards for education, practice and discipline while prioritising public safety.
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Board members, a group of nine that includes practising nurses, a nurse practitioner, a licensed practical nurse, a certified nursing assistant and public representatives, are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate for three-year terms. The president and other officers are chosen internally each year by the members themselves, usually during a meeting late in the calendar for a term that begins in January.
Ms Towobola joined the board in February 2024, appointed to represent nonsupervisory registered nurses providing direct patient care. Her term runs until the end of 2026. She practises as a registered nurse at a Veterans Affairs facility in Corvallis, Oregon, where she draws on more than a decade of hands-on experience in medical-surgical wards, critical care units and emergency departments.
Her academic and professional credentials are robust: a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, board certification in nursing professional development (NPD-BC) and as a certified medical-surgical registered nurse (CMSRN). She has also been involved with the Oregon Nurses Association, engaging in broader advocacy for the profession.
As president, she presides over meetings, steers discussions on everything from licence renewals and scope-of-practice updates to handling complaints and shaping continuing education rules. The role demands a steady hand in balancing clinical realities with regulatory responsibilities in a state where nursing shortages and evolving care models remain pressing concerns.
The appointment has sparked particular pride in Nigerian and wider African networks who described the election as a “trailblazing” moment — “proof that African brilliance belongs at every decision-making table globally”, underscoring how internationally trained nurses are increasingly influencing policy in host countries.
Such milestones matter. With migration shaping much of the global nursing workforce, leaders who bring lived experience from different healthcare systems can help craft more inclusive standards and address equity gaps in patient care and professional opportunities.
The OSBN sees regular leadership rotations; Marcus Cooksey, for instance, held the presidency in 2025. Ms Towobola’s elevation fits that pattern while marking a notable first in representation.
For the many nurses reading from Nigeria, the UK, the US and beyond, it serves as a reminder: excellence in the profession knows no borders, and preparation can open doors to the highest levels of influence.
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