Ekiti State of Nigeria Sons and Daughter Join Hand to a Historical Formation of a New Organization that will Unite them in North America as they Pursue the Seal of Development of their young state Ekiti Land.

EKITI ASSOCIATION IN NORTH AMERICA (EKAINA)

Dallas Texas (August 16- 17, 2002)

History was made on August 17, 2002, as the Ekiti State of Nigeria bold and courageous indigenes gathered together in Dallas Texas with an air of seriousness and fanfare for their first convention to form a new umbrella organization for all Ekiti Local Organizations in North America. Unity, peace and Common Ground for all Ekiti People living in North America were the themes of the Convention. Among the delegates present were those from Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Houston, North Carolina, and Dallas

The Convention was planned and hosted by the Ekiti Progressive Union, Dallas Area in cooperation with other Local Ekiti organizations across North America. The patriotic Dallas chapter under the capable leadership of their president Mr. Mathew Asaolu and his dutiful wife were both hospitable and accommodative to attendees.

The convention began with a reception on Friday, August 16, 2002. All delegates were welcomed and briefed about the events and procedures of the convention. The night was well spent with delicious African Dish provided by the host chapter. On Saturday, the Convention was opened with a Speech by Dallas president Mr. Mathew Asaolu, followed by addresses by other chapter presidents present, including Rev. Ayodele, New York, Mr. Kakaki, Chicago, Mr. Olatunji , representative form Atlanta, Dr. Muyi Arowosafe, Houston and Mr. Segun Ajibulu representative from North Carolina. Each speaker intimated delegates with their chapter’s endeavors in different projects, admonished delegates to unite under one umbrella to put all Ekitis together, and positively lay a solid foundation for a strong and formidable organization for all Ekitis in Nigeria and abroad.

Among the accomplishments of the convention are the establishment of:

v The name and logo of the organization.

v The membership requirements.

v Effective means of collaborating with other organizations including the EIF.

v The location and time of the next convention, which will be hosted by the Chicago chapter in the summer of 2003. “Chicago 2003”

v No officers were elected, however, the presidents of all the local chapters or the head of their representatives at the convention were appointed the working executive of the organization pending the review and amendment of the working constitution by the planning committee. The interim executive committee is comprised as follows:

Mr. Matthew Asaolu (Dallas, TX) - Chairman

Mr. Olusanya Kakaki Ibitoye (Chicago, IL) - General Secretary

Rev. John Ayodele (New York, NY) - Treasurer

Dr. Muyiwa Arowosafe (Houston, TX) - Public Relation Officer

Mr. Olajide Olatunji (Atlanta) - Member

Mr. Segun Ajibulu (Raleigh, NC) - Member

The convention was concluded with an all night party given by the host chapter in commemoration of their first anniversary. It was indeed a huge success!! We are looking forward to a better time next year and of course we are also looking forward to having all Ekiti Local Chapters who could not attend “Dallas 2002” in attendance. We encourage every Ekiti man and woman in every nook and corner of the United States, Mexico and Canada, to crawl out of the woodwork and make your state proud. Join hand with your local organizations, come and let us reason and plan together, for only in doing so can we move our state forward. If perhaps you have forgotten what Ekiti the fountain of knowledge stands for, let’s revisit it for a brief moment.

Excellence, Knowledge, Intelligence, Truth, Integrity, Unity and Peace

Long live Nigeria! Long Live Ekiti State!! Long live EKAINA!!!