His Excellency, Dr. Ayodele Peter Fayose, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State. Honorable Olufemi Dada and other memebrs of the Federal House of Representatives from Ekiti State at the Nigeria National Assembly. Royal Highnesses, Oba Adetula Adeleye, the Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti, the Chairman, Council of Obas, Ekiti State; Oba Popoola Odundun I, the Oore of Otun-Ekiti; Oba David A. Ajayi, the Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti; Oba Boluwade Adebiyi JP, the Olofinkinmileyin III of Are-Ekiti. Professor I.O. Orubuloye, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ado-Ekiti. Our invited guests, and my fellow Nigerians.

My sincere, warm greetings to all of you who are present here this morning and to those who are still on their way here. More importantly, I will like to congratulate all members of Ekiti Associations In North America (EKAINA) — particularly the interim executive committee members — for their hard work, endurance and sacrifice. May almighty God continue to bless you and compensate you for your efforts.

EKAINA started a little less than three years ago as the result of an idea by members of Ekiti Progressive Union in Dallas, Texas, and members of existing Ekiti associations in other cities in the USA and Canada . These men and women of good intent brought their existing Ekiti affiliated organizations together to initiate how they could collectively work to improve conditions for the people of our beloved state. With the help and support of those people and many other individual Ekiti Indigenes across North America, EKAINA has became a vibrant umbrella organization for the most effective and efficient local Ekiti associations in North America. Our main goal is to go forward with pride and sense of purpose under the banner of Ekiti State. EKAINA is a reality among people who take pride in our state as the Nigeria "fountain of knowledge." Our goal is to make Ekiti State a living symbol of the Nigeria New Frontier where science, technology, research and human pride will flourish.

Today, as we celebrate our third convention here in New York, EKAINA has several strong local associations registered under its banner and few more participating as observers. We have more than 500 Ekiti indigenes living in North America as members, counting family members.

We are still growing. New Ekiti affiliated regional associations in California and Minnesota are forming as we speak, and more will join and register their affiliation with us in the near future. Our goal is to have every Ekiti associations and individual indigene in North America be a proud member of EKAINA.

Now, I categorically proclaim to our leaders here and at home, our invited guests, our friends around the world, and our families at home in Ekiti State that Ekiti Association of North America is NOT into partisan politics. We are not affiliated with any political party, nor do we intend to be. EKAINA does not embrace or oppose political candidates based on party affiliations, and as a result, we are NOT beholding to any politician or political party. Though we reside far away from home, we consider ourselves as part of Ekiti State stakeholders and are therefore part of the body politics of the state.

Furthermore, we know that government administrations changes and that politicians do tend to change party affiliations. We are for a stable Ekiti State and are here to rub minds with the leaders of our state. It is true that we are not into partisan politics, but we do realize that democracy is the right of every Nigeria citizens from Ekiti State. Our individual members are free to participate in the political process and exercise their rights under the Ekiti State and Nigeria constitution. EKAINA will endorse or oppose a program based solely on whether it is in the best interest of Ekiti State and not on from whom or what source it originates. EKAINA will embrace any effort that is in the best interest of Ekiti State and oppose any that will be detrimental to the stability and growth of our state.

Our member associations will continue to work hard and do what they do best — continue giving and helping those who are in need in our state and country. In the last couple of years, all EKAINA member organizations have done a wonderful job of giving back to our homeland. I salute them all.

I also take this opportunity to recognize and salute other Ekiti Associations, groups and individuals who are non-members of EKAINA but have, in the past, done something beneficial for our state. May almighty God continue to enrich every one of them wherever they may be.

EKAINA is a social and cultural organization that has come to understand the problems facing the people in our state. Particularly the problems of youth unemployment, deterioration of our education system, a lack of small-scale industries, poor communication systems and hazardous roads and highways, just to name a few. We are not here to criticize and point accusing fingers, but to call attention to problems that are systematic and are capable of derailing Ekiti State as a viable and vibrant homeland for us and our children. Our goals are to work together towards finding lasting solutions to those problems.

EKAINA is an "organization seeking partnership" with all who show interest and sense of purpose in solving Ekiti State problems. We want to help, and we want our leaders at home to partner with us. There is no professional skill needed by our state agencies, our institution of higher learning and our private business entrepreneurs that we cannot help provide! Parts of our goals are proliferation of small-scale businesses, attraction of foreign investors to invest in our state, promotion of industrial growth and to make sure that every child born in Ekiti State is given the chance of at least an elementary education.

But first, we ask that those who run the affairs of our state, whether at the state or federal level, or at the institutions of higher learning must be accountable to the people. They must create a conducive environment and incentive for those who want to donate their time and resources to help the state.

Last but not the least, the citizens of Ekiti State must work together. There bound to be differences of opinions, but we must always look for common grounds for peaceful solutions. Sometimes we may agree to disagree, and we must be willing to accommodate others points of view and cultivate mutual respect. We must put our differences aside and come together as one family and work with our traditional and elected leaders to move Ekiti State forward. We are all one people, and the success of any one of us is success for all — and the failure of any one of us is a failure for all.

On behalf all our members, I once again welcome all of you to the third convention of EKAINA in the USA. I hope all of you have a good time while you are here. Thank You and God bless!