Sylvester Okere

Dr. Sylvester Okere (Certified Institutional Protection Manager CIPM ll) is a Nigerian-born, Washington DC-based international business and political consultant with a primary focus on industrial security, infrastructure and trade facilitation.  

He is a certified corporate security management professional trained as a physical security and private detective with over 33 years of experience in providing proactive/agile personal and asset protection services. He is also good in overseeing and managing security outfits in the private and public sectors. His professional service spans are: surveillance, security and patrol, transportation security, background checks, real estate, divorce investigations, drug abuse, physical or sexual abuse, infidelity, child custody, information and records retrieval. 

Okere is a prominent African diaspora leader in the United States. He was a former officer of the Nigerian Immigration Service and border patrol (where he served 17 years in the Kano state immigration command. He also served as special aide to the Assistant Comptroller General of the immigration). 

Okere is the founding president of a private security and private detective firm: Strategic Groups USA LLC. He began his business career in contract security around the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia area in January 2004. His company provided high profile executive protection and dignitary protection, armed and unarmed security guard services, personal and property protection, and surveillance security services to various corporations, government agencies, circuit courts, schools, financial centers, law firms, worship centers, and the diplomatic communities. 

He operated his first private security firm, Watchman Protective Services Inc. with over 100 employees, and ran it for more than 10 years which generated more than one million dollars in annual revenue. He successfully developed and implemented a project-cost management strategy for the clients he served. He developed a communication management strategy and frequently reported project status to the government and corporate stakeholders. 

Also, Okere is the founding president of the United People for African Congress (UPAC), the umbrella organization that advocates for the rights of African nationals across the United States which empowers and inspires people to run for political offices. Through UPAC, they help lawmakers (in the city, county, state, and federal government) understand the issues in the African community, draft policies and programs of inclusion, diversity and equity which increased public acknowledgment and respect. 

Okere was highly instrumental in the creation of the Maryland Nigeria Sister State program that was signed into law by Governor Martin O’Malley. He also served as Board of Director for the Maryland Sister State Incorporated as chair of the committee wherein he led the successful trade mission between Maryland and the Nigerian States. 

Okere, a former visiting scholar partnered with George Mason University– the largest public research institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia where he was interested in researching the African Diaspora’s involvement in the American political system, and the interface between African immigrant entrepreneurs and American politics– to highlight their contributions across the nation. 

As a former African Diaspora Liaison to the National Democratic Party, DNC/ Black Caucus, Okere’s wide networks of governments, private sectors, institutions, civil societies, and faith-based communities, and the United Nations helped distinguish him across the globe. 

He is passionate about fostering economic growth and political development across Africa leveraging robust networks in trade relationships. His desire is in making others succeed and thrive as his love and commitment for the service of the community span beyond boundaries and race. 

Okere is tirelessly devoted to national service. He volunteered for 7 years at Setting the Captives Free Prison Ministry in Prince George’s County Correctional Services. With that, the UN acknowledged him as International Chaplain, Hon. Sylvester Okere, DD. Ph.D in Democracy and Good Governance,  and as a Fellow Institute of Information Management in Africa.

Okere holds dual citizenship with the United States and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and still shows how proudly patriotic he is.

Sylvester Okere’s Political Affiliation: UNAFFILIATED.