Ondo State Begins Historic Sister-State Partnership With Newark, New Jersey
The Ondo State Government has taken a major step toward international economic cooperation and global development partnerships with plans to formalise a historic Sister-State agreement with the City of Newark, New Jersey, in the United States.
The proposed partnership is expected to strengthen economic development, cultural exchange, manpower training, technology transfer, youth empowerment, and investment opportunities between Ondo State and Newark.
Speaking during a strategic engagement meeting held on Monday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Hon. Princess Kikelomo Ikuomola, described the initiative as a forward-looking collaboration aimed at promoting mutual growth and shared prosperity.
According to her, the partnership will begin with a pilot project involving Ilaje Local Government Area before expanding across other parts of Ondo State after successful implementation.
She explained that the sister-state relationship would create opportunities for both governments to exchange ideas, technical expertise, investments, and developmental resources for collective advancement.
“This partnership is designed for mutual benefit. Newark and Ilaje Local Government have a unique opportunity to collaborate, exchange ideas, share resources, and build developmental opportunities together. Once the pilot phase succeeds, the initiative can naturally spread across Ondo State,” she said.
Princess Ikuomola noted that the state deliberately adopted the pilot local government model to demonstrate Ondo State’s readiness, transparency, and capacity for international partnerships.
She also highlighted the state’s vast agricultural potential, stressing that Ondo possesses fertile land suitable for large-scale organic farming and export-driven food production.
“Ondo State is blessed with intelligent, hardworking, and resourceful people who are ready to collaborate globally. We also have enormous agricultural opportunities capable of supporting organic food production without harmful additives,” she added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transportation in Newark, New Jersey, Hon. Olamide Talabi Davies, explained that Sister-State partnerships are international frameworks that promote exchange of innovation, technical knowledge, manpower, investments, and development opportunities between governments.
She described the arrangement as a strategic relationship that allows both regions to grow together through shared opportunities and collaborative projects.
“What this means is a partnership between a city or state in the United States and another region abroad where both sides exchange ideas, opportunities, human capital, and resources for mutual development,” she stated.
Davies disclosed that the process involves three major stages, including formal application, assessment and evaluation visits, and the final signing of the agreement in the United States.
She confirmed that Ondo State had successfully passed the assessment phase following her observations and engagements during the visit.
“Not every partnership request gets approved because we carefully assess the value and readiness of prospective partners. From everything I have seen within the last 24 hours, I can confidently say we are ready to partner with Ondo State,” she declared.
She further revealed that the next phase would involve an official delegation from Ondo State travelling to Newark, New Jersey, for the formal signing ceremony alongside the city’s mayor.
“We are officially inviting Ondo State representatives to New Jersey to complete the final signing of the Sister-State agreement,” she added.
The proposed partnership is expected to unlock fresh opportunities in agriculture, trade, investment, education, manpower development, international exposure, and strategic global collaboration for Ondo State and its people.
