Edward Ejike Okpa

Edward Ejike Okpa Jnr. also referred to as Ejike Okpa II, is a Nigerian-American Entrepreneur, commercial real estate Broker, economic development practitioner and Dallas businessman who is a three-time mayoral candidate for Mayor of Dallas.[1] He was commissioned by an Admiral in Texas Navy in 2012 by Texas Governor, Rick Perry.[2]


Edward Ejike Okpa Jnr.
Born (1960-04-24) 24 April 1960
OccupationEntrepreneur, Politician

Okpa first contested in 2003 and then again in 2007 when elections were held to elect the successor to incumbent Mayor Laura Miller. In 2011, Okpa was the first minority candidate to announce his interest in the Dallas mayoral election which took place on May 14, 2011.[3] Okpa was the only person of color to contest the election.[4]

Early life

Okpa was born on the 24 April 1960 to Chief Edward Ejikemenwa Okpa, a politician and Teresa Okpa who are both of Nigerian ancestry. Chief Edward Ejikemenwa Okpa Senior was the chief of Umuonwo Village in Ihe Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State in Southeast Nigeria.[5]

Okpa graduated from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, and in 1985, he emigrated to the United States to study real estate. In 1999, he graduated from the Dallas Police Citizen’s Academy and is also an alumnus of Dallas FBI Citizens Academy.[6]

In 2006, Okpa graduated from an executive Advanced Management Program in Real Estate at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.[7] He is also a next generation Fellow of The American Assembly, by Columbia University

Career

Okpa founded his own Real Estate firm in 1990, a few years after graduating from the University of North Texas, he had previously worked in retail and had a stint in 1986 at Roddy Information Systems Services.[8] Until March 2003, Okpa was Mayor Kirk’s appointee to the City of Dallas Permit and License Appeal Board and served on the Census 2000 Complete Count Committee. He served on the Dallas County Appraisal Review Board and he is also currently on the Texas Board of the US Selective Service Systems under Region II, as a permanent board member. Dallas Mayor Hon. Laura Miller appointed Mr. Okpa to Chair the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in 2004.[9][10]

Awards & Recognition
  • In 1994, he received an award in recognition of his outstanding volunteer service to World Cup USA 1994
  • In November 2004, he was appointed to serve on City of Dallas Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee as a representative of the chamber of commerce
  • In 2004, Dallas Mayor Hon. Laura Miller appointed Mr Okpa to Chair the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
  • In 2012, he received an award from the Rivers State Branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in appreciation of his brilliant paper presentation at the 2012 Port Harcourt MCPD in Rivers State
  • In 2019, He was appointed by Export-Import Bank of the United States as a member of the 2019 sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee.[11]

References
  1. Austin, BJ (February 25, 2011). "Candidates For Dallas Mayor Mix It Up". Kera News. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  2. O, Tosan (October 5, 2012). "Edward Okpa Commissioned Admiral in the Texas Navy". Trendy Africa. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  3. Bush, Rudolph (February 14, 2011). "Edward Okpa wants to run for Dallas mayor, again". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  4. Kalthoff, Ken (February 25, 2011). "Dallas Mayoral Candidates Court Minority Votes". NBC Dallas. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  5. "Meet the candidates for Dallas Mayor". The Daily Campus. April 18, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  6. Igbo, Stanford (February 25, 2011). "BIOGRAPHY OF NIGERIAN-AMERICAN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, EJIKE OKPA". Information Guide Africa. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  7. "Global Affairs: Africans Must Exercise Confidence". African Executive. April 5, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  8. Fisher, George (May 5, 2010). "Ed Okpa is Selling Dallas and Influencing People". DMagazine. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  9. "Good Governance and the Nigerian State: The Way Forward I". NAS. May 5, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  10. Aduayi, Tosan (May 5, 2010). "A Passion For Public Service: Edward Okpa For Mayor Of Dallas". Nigerian Village Square. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  11. "US EXIM Bank in Implementation of President Trump's Prosper Africa Initiative". LNC-USA.org. November 23, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
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