Rt. Hon. Miatta Fahnbulleh MP for Peckham and Rt. Hon. Dawn Butler MP for Brent.
ARA Awards 2025 was another night to be remembered for delivering on a promise full of chillaxation, inspiration speech by the founder and executive director Cllr Dr Sunny Lambe, Mayor of Southwark, on the theme ‘Celebrating, Achievement, Diversity and Spirit of Togetherness’ and networking opportunities.
The Building Blocks Initiative, organising the annual Achievement Recognition Awards 2025 for the 22nd time are very pleased to announce the following winners of the ARA Awards 2025 on Saturday 25th October at the Hilton Hotel Tower Bridge London.
Honorary Award Winners include:
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Paul Boateng CVO, Lord Bishop Christopher Chessum, HRH Prince Ebrahim Sayang of the Gambia, Rt. Hon. Dawn Butler MP for Brent, Cllr. Fatima Kamara, Prof. Dr. Parin Somani, Dr. Baasegun Olusola Oni, Marie Laurence Panzo-Tape, Princess Toyin Onagoruwa, Cllr Princess Bright, etc.
Pride of Southwark @60 Recognition Award recipients include:
OCO Connect, Cllr Michael Situ, Cllr Sunil Chopra, Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Cllr Jasmine Ali, Cllr Dr Ian Wingfield, Cllr Maria Linforth-Hall, Cllr Evelyn Akoto, Cllr Charlie Smith, Chidilim Agada, PC Kevin Webster, and Jennie Mitchell from the Registry Office for their individual outstanding contributions to the 60 of making Southwark a united borough serving all citizens.
Community & Professional Award recipients include: Alec Ross, Sir Barrister Chibuzo Ubochi, Ebere Nwokenna, Dr Olushola Kolawole, Ayan De First Mr Culture, Djoko Gnahoua, Nancy Restrepo Trullo, Dr Gifty Caroline Frazer, Blackman Akeeb Kareem, Otunba Hashim Olabode Osenie, Olga Attemene, etc.
YEGA AWARDS
Winner trophy went to Tolulope Idowu while Sinaubi Zawisa settled for the
runner up.
YOUNG LEADERSHIP ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION – Young Political Leadership went to Cllr Princess Bright
A guest went home with the highly prestigious BBI ARA AWARDS AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR 2025 guests’ interactive competition trophy while some lucky winners walked away with the raffle prizes, which included the highly valued donated FREE One Night’s Stay for two at the Hilton London Tower Bridge hotel.
The BBI’s annual Awards has become a much anticipated event within the Black and Minority Ethnic business and social calendar, bringing about community and industrial recognition, professional networking opportunities, social celebration and a spirit of togetherness.
This year’s event was most notable as a whole section of the awards was dedicated to the Pride of Southwark @60 Recognition Awards to recognised and celebrated 60 Years of the old Bermondsey, Camberwell and Southwark merging together in April 1965 to form the current London Borough of Southwark. Congratulations to all winners of the award.
Among dignitaries also present were Cllr (Dr) Sunny Lambe, the Worshipful Mayor and first citizen of Southwark, including Rt. Hon. Dawn Butler MP for Brent, Rt. Hon. Miatta Fahnbulleh MP for Peckham, Past Mayors of Cllr Michael Situ, Cllr Sunil Chopra, and Cllr Ian Wingfield, award winner and former Deputy Leader of Southwark Council, jointly seated around same table with Nina Dell, representing the OCO Connect and their team while Cllr Sunny Lambe, the current Mayor of Southwark played the co-host with Lady Dr Waynett Peters, ARA Awards Ambassador. Among other dignitaries’ guests were Prince Mike Abiola Publisher of the African Voice Newspapers, and Princess Toyin Onagoruwa, brand ambassador for the Kato Enterprises, the African drinks sponsors, and Ayan De First, (Mr Culture), who performed an interactive drumming session to entertain the adoring audience from very diverse backgrounds.
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