Annapolis, Maryland
State House
Friday June 7, 2013
By Frederick Nnoma-Addison
Maryland and Ondo State, (South Western Nigeria) today signed an MOU to become Sister-States under the Maryland Sister-States Program.
Governor Martin O’Malley (Maryland) and Governor Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) signed the agreement on behalf of their respective states at approximately 8:50am EST, at the Governor’s Reception Room of the State House, Annapolis. 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, and had to be rescheduled twice in the past two months, was celebrated by the attendees with such excitement that Governor O’Malley remarked “I have never seen this many cameras in this room before.” Governor Mimiko’s delegation to the United States included the First Lady of Ondo State – Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko, who coincidentally celebrated her birthday that same day.
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. In his remarks Governor O’Malley acknowledged the contributions of the 25,000 Nigerian-Americans in the state of Maryland. He congratulated Governor Mimiko for his transformational leadership in Ondo state and described him as “one of the most progressive governor’s in Nigeria”.
Governor Mimiko also 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. “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.”
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.
According to the Office of the Secretary of State, the Maryland Sister-State program oversees 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. It was established in 1980 to provide a forum for the promotion of international cooperation and understanding. 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
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.
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