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Written by Empowered Newswire

Winning international applause and acclaim for Nigeria, Nigerian-born US based oil tycoon, Dr. Kase Lawal has been elected for a consecutive 7th term in office by the City Council of Houston, America's 4th largest city as a Commissioner in the Port of Houston Authority,Texas, Empowered Newswire reports.

In a press release over the weekend from Texas by the Port Commission, the Houston City Council "unanimously reappointed businessman Kase Lawal to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority for a seventh term," having been initially named to the two-year term office in June 1999.

 The Port Commission is the governing board of the Port of Houston Authority.

Lawal who also announced that he will retire at the end of the 7th term is the only African on the board of the Port Authority, which controls the second biggest American port. A notable business entrepreneur in the US, Lawal, who hails from Ibadan, is also the chairman of Port Authority's Small Business Development Task Force. Lawal was named last year by US and Canada based Nigerians as one of the top 50-American based Nigerians to mark Nigeria's Golden Jubilee independence celebrations.

The press release said "Lawal brings an extensive history of civic service to his port position." He is currently serving President Barack Obama as a member of the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN).

Previously, according to the release, he was appointed to the United States Trade Advisory Committee on Africa, reporting to President Bill Clinton, and was the U.S. Trade Representative on trade policy in Africa.

Commenting on the development, Dr Lawal said "representing the city of Houston as a Port of Houston Authority commissioner is a true honor and significant responsibility, particularly given the port's vital economic role to not only the city, but this nation," Lawal said.

Speaking further, Dr Kase Lawal, the chairman of CAMAC Energy, a US-traded oil and gas corporation added that "I appreciate the full confidence of the City Council and will continue to strive to represent the city and the port well."

The press release disclosed that Lawal's candidacy was put forward for the 7th term on the Commission by City Council member James Rodriguez. The Council member observed that Dr. Lawal's continued presence on the Port Commission is positive for the Port Authority as well as the city.

"It was my distinct honor to nominate Dr. Kase Lawal to the Port of Houston Authority," Rodriguez said. "Dr. Lawal's knowledge and experience in international affairs make him a major asset to the Port Commission. I am confident that his reappointment will keep our port and regional economy thriving."

Port Commission Chairman Jim Edmonds also lauded the reappointment of the US-based Nigerian.

According to Edmonds, "Commissioner Lawal is a well-known and well-respected leader in the international business community. His work on the commission, particularly as a supporter of small business development and education, is welcomed."

Lawal is chairman and chief executive officer of CAMAC International Corporation, a multi-national energy corporation. CAMAC and its affiliates are engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, engineering services and crude oil and natural gas trading for worldwide markets.

Under his leadership, CAMAC has consistently ranked on the Forbes Magazine list of the 400 largest privately-owned corporations in the United States and on the Black Enterprise Magazine list as the second largest African-American owned company in the United States.

In 2006, CAMAC was named the Company of the Year by Black Enterprise Magazine. Lawal is also the chairman of Allied Energy Corporation and a significant stakeholder in Unity National Bank, the only federally insured and licensed African American owned bank in Texas, where he serves as vice chairman of the bank's board of directors.

Besides, he is a former member of the United States Council on the Business Development Committee of the U.S.- South Africa Binational Commission and the Board of Directors of the Corporate Council on Africain Washington,D.C. He is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the World Trade Council of the Greater Houston Partnership.

The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo.

Each year, there are more than 7,700 vessel calls at the port, which ranks first in theU.S.in foreign water borne tonnage and second in overall total tonnage.

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