Cross River State, Nigeria Seeks Sister States Partnership With The State Of Maryland
The Cross River State Delegation and representatives of seven other Nigerian states complete the first phase of the Sister State Initiative process.
- (1888PressRelease) September 28, 2011 - Cross River State, Nigeria has began frank discussions with officials of the State of Maryland with the ultimate aim of entering into the Maryland Sister States Partnership Initiative geared towards promoting business relationships, cultural exchanges and creating global initiatives between the two States.
The First Phase of the meeting between officials of the two States on the criteria for the Maryland Sister States Partnership took place recently at the Office of the Secretary of State of Maryland, Honourable John P. McDonough, with the Deputy Secretary of State, Rajan Natarajan and Ms. Mendy Nistch in attendance at the discussions while the Cross River delegation to the discussions included Mr. Patrick Ugbe, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dr. Ikpeme Ben Ebong, Special Assistant to Governor Liyel Imoke on Diaspora Matters; Dr, Effem Imoke, Dr. Cheryl A. Hill of Integrity International Consulting Group; Mr. James Cooper, Ms. Regyna Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Maxser Consulting Group as well as some Cross River State's Diaspora Committee members.
Cross River State has a rich history and culture that naturally connects itself with Maryland State in particular and the United States of America as a whole.
The State is located in a Coastal Zone just like Maryland, and has remained consistently the most serene, clean, and environmentally friendly State in Nigeria.
According to Governor Liyel Imoke, "it is a natural fit for me to partner with Maryland's Community organizations. Maryland's standards are likened unto the standards that we have set in Cross River State. As Cross River expands its global reach, we welcome partnerships such as the Sister States initiative".
Mr. Patrick Ugbe, Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, who was at the head of the State's delegation to the discussions, described the Maryland's Sister States Partnership as a laudable initiative imbued with lots of benefits, adding "Maryland's rich culture complements Cross River State's culture and will provide valuable technical assistance to several initiatives that His Excellency has instituted for Cross River State and her people. I had an opportunity to tour the Banneker Douglas Museum and saw how the Slave trade experience was replicated, I was amazed at the similarity of thought as Cross River's Slave History Museum is parallel to the Banneker Douglas Museum" Ugbe added.
The Maryland Sister States Initiative was established in 1980 to provide a platform for the promotion of International Cooperation and understanding among like-mind States through a broad based citizens participation in wide variety of exchanges in areas of mutual interest.
Cross River State has a long rich history of closer ties with the United States of America, and the Maryland State in particular, which has made the two States share a lot in common. Governor Liyel Imoke for instance is an Alumnus of the University of Maryland College Park, where he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in International Relations and Economic in 1982. Besides, the Governor had since then developed several community based initiatives in Maryland, including a Sister School Partnership in Prince George's County through Mrs. Obioma Imoke while the Governor's brother, Dr. Effem Imoke, is a Medical Doctor working at the Bon Secours Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
The wife of the Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Oboma Imoke has also worked judiciously with several community based organizations in Maryland to establish exchange programs in the area of health, education and humanitarian assistance, resulting in the establishment of three Memorandum of Understandings to facilitate reciprocal exchange programs.
Other States in Nigeria seeking for the Maryland Sister States initiative include Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Kano, Anambra, Imo, and Rivers States.
The initiative currently has ten active sister States relationships around the world including Anhui Province in China; Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan; Gyeongsengnam-Do, South Korea; City of Saint Petersburg, Russia; Jalisco, Mexico; Lodz Region, Poland; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Bong and Maryland Counties, Liberia; Harju County, Estonia and Ninh Ihuan Province, Vietnam.
NAKANDA IYADIM
INFORMATION OFFICER
OFFICE OF THE S A MEDIA/CPS
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE
NIGERIA
+234-803 364 2032 .
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