The Mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, United States, Mr. Hollies Winston, on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Adviser to the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ighoyota Amori, at his office in Asaba.
Mayor Winston, the first African American elected to lead Brooklyn Park, was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Latrice Winston, and members of the Reconnecting the Great Diaspora (RGD), including Hon. Jite Brown, Chief Godfrey Edaferierhi, Chief Aruworay Memene, and Chief Ochuko Okitikpi.
Speaking during the visit, Mayor Winston said his mission was to reconnect with his African roots and to strengthen bilateral ties with Delta State in the areas of health, agriculture, housing, and business.
From my perspective as an African American, coming back to reconnect with the people I have been separated from for hundreds of years is important. For my wife and myself, it means a lot to meet the people because that is who we are and where we come from,” he said.
He also commended the Nigerian community in Brooklyn Park for its contributions to the city’s growth, noting that Nigerians and other Africans played a vital role in stabilising the economy through home ownership, small businesses, and community development.
“The Nigerian community has had a great impact in Brooklyn Park. They helped stabilise our economy during the housing crash and continue to play a vital role in our development,” he added.
Winston further highlighted investment opportunities in his city, particularly in the medical devices corridor, agriculture, and housing, and expressed readiness to collaborate with Delta State in these sectors.
“Brooklyn Park is expecting to create over 10,000 jobs and up to 5,000 housing units in the next decade, and we want our Nigerian-American community to have access to these opportunities,” the Mayor stated.
Also speaking, Chief Godfrey Edaferierhi of RGD explained that the organisation is focused on attracting foreign investors to Delta State.
“This relationship with Minnesota began with the previous Mayor, but with Mayor Winston’s visit, we expect even greater progress in bringing development and infrastructure to our communities,” he said.
In his response, Senator Amori commended Mayor Winston and his delegation, assuring them their message would be conveyed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
“Delta State is part of a developing country with a young democracy compared to the United States, but with collaborations like this, development will speed up,” Amori said.
He urged the Mayor to experience both the strengths and challenges of the state to gain a balanced perspective and invited him to return for a tour of Delta’s unique tourist attractions.
“I encourage you to visit again and see sites like the source of the River Ethiope, which springs from under a tree. These are treasures that reflect the beauty of our land,” he added.
The visit marks a new phase of engagement between Delta State and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, aimed at fostering cultural reconnection, economic collaboration, and sustainable development.
