O’Malley acknowledges contributions of 25,000 Nigerians for development of Maryland, USA

Governor Martin O’Malley in group picture with Governor Olusegun Mimiko and others at ceremony marking the signing of MOU between Maryland and Ondo State

Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland in the United States of America has acknowledged the contributions of 25,000 Nigerian-Americans in the state of Maryland which promotes international cooperation, social and economic progress.

 O’Malley made this acknowledgement during the ceremony marking the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between his State (Maryland) and Ondo State, Nigeria at the Governor’s Reception Room of the State House, Annapolis, USA on Friday June 7.

 The MOU for the said partnership which was forged by Imo State-born Sylvester Okere and five others is anchored on the Maryland Sister-State program established in 1980 to provide a forum for the promotion of international cooperation and understanding and designed to oversee an array of international exchanges promoting a balance of business, educational, and cultural interests. It is chaired by the Secretary of State, steered by a devoted and spirited Advisory Board of Directors, and staffed by an army of citizen-volunteers.

About 100 leaders from the diplomatic, business, academic, religious, development, and nonprofit communities witnessed the ceremony. This historic event which had been in the works for at least two years, was celebrated by the attendees with such excitement that Governor O’Malley remarked “I have never seen this many cameras in this room before.”

Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State who was accompanied to the occasion by his wife, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko, expressed his gratitude to the governor and State of Maryland for the partnership and promised to work together for the mutually beneficial interests of both states and countries. Said he;

 “Certain things are common to Ondo State and Maryland; education, agriculture, and our emphasis on the development of human capital. Our partnerships will forge along these strong pillars of our societies”.

Before signing the documents, the two governors highlighted the importance of the common interests, aspirations and challenges of Marylanders and Ondo State citizens, to the partnership.

O’Malley congratulated Governor Mimiko for his transformational leadership in Ondo state and described him as “one of the most progressive governors in Nigeria”.

After the ceremony, Ondo State became the 11th State under Maryland’s Sister-State Program, and the second in Africa. The two governors exchanged official gifts after the ceremony, all of them bearing symbols of Maryland and Ondo State.

Some notable individuals who were instrumental in forging this MOU, and were present at the ceremony include the following:

* John P. McDonough – Secretary of State, Maryland
* Ambassador B.E. Archibong – Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Nigeria
* Remi Duyile – Special Assistant to Gov. Olusegun Mimiko, Diaspora Affairs
* Sylvester Okere – Chair, Maryland-Nigeria Sister State Executive Committee
* Elizabeth Hines – Director, Governor’s Commission of Community Initiatives
* Anna Yankova – Director, International Affairs, Office of the Secretary of State
* Iman Awad – Director, Administrative – Commission on Middle Eastern and African Affairs

Maryland prides herself in being one of the few U.S. states with a Governor’s Commission dedicated to African Affairs, aside other ethnic groups http://www.african.maryland.gov/ . The African Affairs Commission is a part of the Governor’s Commission of Community Initiatives.

A full list of Maryland’s other sister states is available at the Office of the Secretary of State http://www.sos.state.md.us/international/MSSP.aspx