Sometime between 1987-1988, Mr. Umoh Isuo and Mrs. Comfort Ekpenyong were introduced to each other by Mr. Samuel Ekpenyong in a house party in the Dallas area. This introduction led to regular house visits by the two. Later on, the late Mr. Victor Unoh and Mrs. Tammy Unoh joined. Mrs. Comfort Adeola and the husband, Mr. Samuel Adeola also joined in the visits. Just after that, someone suggested forming a chapter of Oron Development Union in Dallas. Everyone agreed and an ODU chapter was born with Mrs. Comfort Ekpenyong as the first president of ODU, Dallas chapter.

In September of 1993, a bank account was opened, dues were set at $5 per month and meetings were scheduled for the second Saturday of every month. That bank account is still operational today.

On September 28, 1996, the chapter was formally launched, money was raised, and the proceeds were used to buy medical equipment for Iquita General Hospital Oron.

On September 2nd, 2000, Dallas Chapter hosted her first National Conference with Dr. Joseph Esin as the President. In 2002, Mr. & Mrs. Asangansi and family joined the chapter. Since then, the chapter has experienced steady membership growth.

The chapter took on an important project like secondary school, need-based scholarship in the five local government areas of Oron. The program ended when secondary education in Akwa Ibom State became tuition free.

In 2017, the chapter was open for at-large ODU members so they can have a place to call their home chapter. This policy brought an influx of members all over the country causing the chapter to grow by leaps and bounds. As of today, the chapter has 40 registered members including young professionals, with 80% committed membership.

In 2019, the chapter then came up with a flagship program that we call The Backpack Project. That has been successfully going on for five years now. This is our chapter’s effort in encouraging academic excellence to build Oron Youth as Leaders of Tomorrow.

We donate backpacks with school supplies to primary school pupils in the five LGAs of Oron. As of today, more than 1,700 pupils have benefited from this project. The aim is to reach every school across the 5 local governments in Oron.

In June 2020 Dallas Chapter became an independent, recognized, 501(c)(3) organization.

Besides hosting four ODU National Conferences, the chapter has also organized five successful chapter fundraisings. The last two fundraisings organized by the chapter in 2023 and 2024, were done under the leadership of our current President, Dr. Efiong Ndekhedehe.