Health & Community Wellbeing
- Keynote
- Salon G · Saturday 11:00 AM
- Breakout
- Telehealth Year Two · functional clinics & accountability · an Emergency Assistance Fund
- Named deliverable
- Three resolutions — what · who · by when · cost
Past conventionThis is the record of Convention 2026, San Francisco (September 4–6, 2026). Tickets and hotel booking are closed.Next: Houston, Labor Day weekend 2027 →
§ INC-USA 2nd National Convention · Labor Day Weekend 2026
Bridging and Building
Iwere Land.
Bridge · Build · Belong. Year Two begins the construction Year One’s gains made possible — building together what neither shore could build alone.
N
Hosted by the host regionNorthern California Itsekiri Association
8Regions · one Congress
3Days · Sept 4–6
4Programming pillars
$149Hotel group rate
§ 01 · What We Build
Four programming pillars. Four named deliverables.
Every session hangs from one pillar.
Full session list
Full session list
Culture, Language & the Next Generation
- Keynote
- Salon H · Saturday 11:00 AM
- Breakout
- Identity that survives — at home and in diaspora children
- Named deliverable
- Three resolutions for the 2026 Communiqué
Education & Human Capital
- Keynote
- Salon I · Saturday 11:00 AM
- Breakout
- Scholarships · mentorship · professional networks, here and back home
- Named deliverable
- Three resolutions for the 2026 Communiqué
Economic Development & Accountability
- Keynote
- Salon J · Saturday 11:00 AM
- Breakout
- Sustainable projects · public-private partnerships · diaspora investment · lobbying
- Named deliverable
- Three resolutions for the 2026 Communiqué
§ The weekend
Four moments not to miss.
Tap any card for the full guide.
Fri · 7 PMOldies NightWelcome Reception · dress like it's the '70s · Cultural Passport Challenge
Sat · 9 AMA think tank for the Itsekiri nationKeynotes · working groups · the Communiqué · Constitution · elections
Sat · 6 PMGala Night & FundraiserRed carpet · INC Awards · Mofe Duncan · Edwint live
Sun · 9:30 AMBay Area excursionGolden Gate photo stop · scenic drive · picnic & closing
§ 02 · Schedule
Three days. The full programme.
Fri Oldies Welcome Night · Sat keynotes, Constitution, elections + Gala Night · Sun Bay Area excursion
See more
See more
2:00 – 9:00 PMGrand Ballroom Registration Desk
Registration & badge pick-up
Collect your programme, badge, and Cultural Passport. Apparel vendors set up across from the desk.
4:00 – 5:00 PMExco only
Executive Committee meeting
5:00 – 7:00 PMSan Ramon Room
Board of Directors meeting
Exco & Regional Presidents.
7:00 – 10:00 PMGrand Ballroom Salons A–D
Welcome Reception · Oldies Night — dress like it's the '70s!
Opened by Vice President Lovelance Sagay · icebreaker networking & chapter introductions · the Cultural Passport Challenge (quiz, stamps, selfies, raffle) · Oldies dance floor — Old School, Afropop classics & '70s grooves · 9:00 PM Best-Dressed of the '70s Soul Train line with cash prizes · hors d'oeuvres & premium cash bar.
★ Election year · Convention business 2026
Convention Saturday is vote day.
Following the adoption of the Constitution, the General Assembly elects the National Executive Committee for the coming term — Saturday, September 5, 2026, 2:10 PM in Grand Ballroom Salon E, conducted by the Patrons & Matrons. Regional delegates vote.
§ 03 · Speakers
The lineup.
MC · two keynotes · Edwint live · guest appearance by Mofe Duncan.
All speakers
All speakers
Confirmed · Master of Ceremonies
Patrick Doyle
Broadcaster · Actor · Filmmaker
Veteran Nigerian broadcaster, actor, and filmmaker Patrick Doyle — the voice who pioneered entertainment television with Friday Nite Live — holds the convention floor, from the opening plenary through An Evening of Iwere Elegance.
Watch his announcement
Otse Amorighoye
Keynote · President, INC-USA
Year Two Begins the Construction — from foundation to bridge. The charge to the working groups.
Sat · 9:45 AMGrand Ballroom Salon E
Ade Mabo
Keynote · Founder, Roli Mabo Foundation
Bridging and Building Iwere Land — building together what neither shore could build alone.
Sat · 10:15 AMGrand Ballroom Salon E
Mofe Duncan
Guest Appearance · Actor
Award-winning Nollywood actor, director, and writer joins the Gala Night as our special guest.
Sat · Gala NightGrand Ballroom · from 7:00 PM
Edwint Toghanro
Guest Performer · Reggae-Dancehall
Reggae-dancehall musician from Delta State, Nigeria. EDWINT LIVE — the headline performance of the night, closing the Gala with dancing till 1:00 AM.
Sat · 11:15 PMGrand Ballroom
§ 04 · Venue & Travel
A waterfront Marriott. Minutes from SFO.
Free 24/7 SFO shuttle · bay views · walking trails
Hotel & directions
Hotel & directions
San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront
1800 Old Bayshore Hwy · Burlingame, CA 94010
A waterfront Marriott in Burlingame with bay views, walking trails, and a free 24/7 shuttle to SFO every 30 minutes. The full conference floor is held for all three days of programming.
Room block rate$149 / night
Room block closesAug 13, 2026
Block size200 room nights
Group codeM-VODAXZV
AirportSFO · free 24/7 shuttle
Parking$18/night self · $34 valet
AccessibilityFully ADA compliant
Saturday evening · Bridging and Building
An Evening of Iwere Elegance.
Saturday evening gala in the Bay Grand Ballroom — red carpet, dinner, awards, cultural performances, and a Edwint live — with a guest appearance by actor Mofe Duncan. Traditional attire; Itsekiri regalia welcomed.
- Red carpet and professional photography
- Cocktail reception
- Awards + VIP recognition
- Cultural performances
- Edwint live · guest appearance by Mofe Duncan
§ 05 · Register
Six ways to show up.
Tickets sold through Zeffy · 100% to INC-USA
Non-refundable · transferable to another attendee
Non-refundable · transferable to another attendee
Tier 01
Standard Admission
$150· ages 13+
- Friday Welcome Reception (Oldies Night)
- Saturday General Session with our speakers
- Lunch + all cultural events
- Gala Night plated dinner · Standard table
Tier 02
VIP Admission
$300
- Everything in Standard
- Reserved VIP table near the stage for the Gala
- Priority check-in
- VIP gift bag — INC polo shirt & hat
Tier 03
Kids Admission
$100· ages 3–12
- With a paid adult ticket · under 3 free
- Meals throughout the convention
- Kids' activities
- Gala Dinner entry · kids' section
Tier 04
Gala Night Only
$125· VIP seat $175
- Saturday evening only · traditional attire
- Plated dinner — chicken or salmon
- INC Awards + fundraising
- Edwint live + guest appearance by Mofe Duncan
- VIP: seating near the stage + priority check-in
Tier 05 · Table
VIP Table (Seats 6)
$2,000/table
- Private reserved table at the very front
- Full VIP treatment for all 6 — gift bags
- Priority group check-in
- Commemorative group photo
- Named recognition in the programme
Tier 06 · Table
VIP Table (Seats 8)
$2,500/table
- Private reserved table at the very front
- Full VIP treatment for all 8 — gift bags
- Priority group check-in
- Commemorative group photo
- Named recognition in the programme
Travel & logistics
SFO is the main airport — 3.2 miles from the hotel with a free 24/7 shuttle. OAK and SJC are 40–60 minutes by BART or rideshare. Uber/Lyft from SFO is $15–25.
Preferred airportSFO · 3.2 mi
Shuttle frequencyEvery 30 min · 24/7
BART stationSan Bruno · 1.9 mi
Parking on-site$18/night self (delegate rate)
Rideshare zoneHotel entrance
Before you go
Convention days run long. Plan for cool Bay Area evenings in the 50s–60s, bring a shawl for gala night, and pack comfortable shoes for the Saturday courtyard lunch.
Daytime dressBusiness casual / ankara
Gala dressItsekiri formal / black tie
Check-in opensFri · 7 AM
Weather average68°F / 55°F
Letter of invite?info@itsekirinationalcongress.org
When and where is the 2026 Convention?
Programming runs Friday September 4 through Sunday September 6, 2026 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront, 1800 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame, CA 94010. Registration opens Friday at 2:00 PM; the Welcome Reception starts at 7:00 PM. The Northern California Itsekiri region hosts.
What is the theme?
Bridging and Building Iwere Land — Bridge · Build · Belong. Year One made Iwere Land stronger; Year Two begins the construction those gains made possible. We bridge diaspora to homeland — through telemedicine, mentorship, mutual aid — and we build on that bridge: institutions, enterprises, partnerships, programs.
How much does registration cost?
Standard Admission (13+) $150 · VIP Admission $300 · Kids (3–12) $100, under 3 free · Gala Night Only $125 Standard / $175 VIP · VIP Tables $2,000 (seats 6) / $2,500 (seats 8). Sold through Zeffy — 100% of your payment goes to INC-USA.
Is there a hotel room block?
The INC-USA group-rate block closed August 13. Rooms may still be available at the hotel's standard rate — book directly with the SF Airport Marriott Waterfront. Free 24/7 SFO shuttle, discounted $18/day delegate parking, walking trails, and bay views.
What about governance and the constitution?
The INC-USA Constitution was distributed to every delegate ahead of the convention, and Saturday's plenary reviewed it article by article. The delegates adopted the Constitution and Bylaws on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Can I bring my kids?
Yes. Kids Admission (ages 3–12, $100) covers meals throughout the convention, kids' activities during the Saturday sessions, and Gala Dinner seating in the kids' section. Under-3s are free with a paid adult; teens 13+ use Standard Admission.
How do I donate or pay for a brochure ad?
Zelle to donations@itsekirinationalcongress.org — put the program (Health Initiative, Emergency Assistance Fund, Education & Youth, Gala Pledge) or your ad name in the memo. INC-USA is a 501(c)(3). Scan the Zelle code on the Give page.
Is there a scholarship?
If cost is a barrier, email info@itsekirinationalcongress.org with a short note. Requests are reviewed case by case and handled privately.
The floor opens Sept 4.
See you in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Tickets are on sale now through Zeffy — Standard $150, VIP $300, Kids $100, Gala Night Only from $125. Doors open Friday, September 4 at 2 PM.