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Nigerian-born American lawyer Shirley Emehelu has made history in the United States after becoming the first immigrant to serve as lieutenant governor of New Jersey.
The 48-year-old was appointed to the position by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill on Monday, making her the fifth person to occupy the office.
Her appointment also marks a historic moment for the state, as it is the first time two women will simultaneously serve as governor and lieutenant governor.
Emehelu was sworn into office at the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner. Her husband and children were present at the ceremony.
She succeeds Dale Caldwell, who resigned from the position in September but will continue serving as New Jersey's secretary of state.
Born in Nigeria, Emehelu relocated to the United States with her family when she was three years old. She initially lived in Chicago before moving to Pittsburgh, where she spent part of her childhood.
She later attended Yale University, graduating with a bachelor's degree before obtaining her law degree from Yale Law School.
Following her education, Emehelu began her professional career in private legal practice and subsequently worked as a judicial clerk at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Her public service career gained momentum in 2010 when she joined the United States Attorney's Office in New Jersey as an Assistant United States Attorney.
She held the position until 2019, prosecuting financial fraud cases before taking on the responsibility of Chief of Asset Recovery and Anti-Money Laundering.
In that capacity, she supervised matters involving money laundering, asset forfeiture and efforts to secure compensation for victims of financial crimes.
Emehelu joined the New Jersey state government in 2022 as Executive Assistant Attorney General, becoming the third-highest-ranking official in the state's Attorney General's Office.
She subsequently served as acting State Comptroller in January 2026 before becoming acting secretary of state in September.
Announcing her appointment, Governor Sherrill praised her experience in fighting financial crimes, protecting consumers and addressing waste in government.
In her reaction, Emehelu expressed pride in her Nigerian heritage and described the appointment as significant for communities that share her background.
She said her career had been dedicated to upholding the law, protecting families and fighting fraud, abuse and corruption.
Emehelu is married to Ikenna Emehelu, and they have two children, Nnamdi and Amara.
As lieutenant governor, she is expected to work with Sherrill's administration on reducing the cost of living, creating opportunities and improving public services for residents of New Jersey.
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