Ejike Okpa, II lives in Dallas and is an economic development expert. He chairs the International Trade Committee of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce [oldest African American Chamber of Commerce in US] as well as vice chair of its Board. He ran for Mayor in the City of Dallas General Election in May 2003 and finished third out of a five person candidates. Later Dallas Morning News editorialized his run for the office in an editorial and characterized him as an ‘Up and Comer’ someone with unusual perspective on issues and very thoughtful. By this political, Mr. Okpa is first naturalized Nigerian-American to run for mayor of a major US city. Mr. Okpa has participated in trade missions to several African and central American countries and is an active participant in business the civic and community sectors of the Dallas. He is a graduate of the Dallas Police Citizens Academy Class of 17 and Dallas FBI Citizens Program second class.