Nigerians in the United Kingdom recorded another glorious feat in the political annals of the United Kingdom on Wednesday 4 June 2014, when the London borough of Lambeth inaugurated His Worshipful The Mayor Adedamola Ade Aminu as its number one citizen for the 2014 -2015. The Nigerian born Mayor was elected by his councillor colleagues to represent the face of the diverse borough and serve the ratepayers and residents of Lambeth Council.
In his inaugural speech, Mayor Ade Aminu, who is also a full time business lecturer in an FE college, thanked his fellow councillors for the honour and privilege to be given the opportunity to serve. He pledged to raise the profile of the borough. During the mayoral year, the Mayor said, he will do his best to raise the plight of traumatised girls by supporting the charity, Girl Child Network Worldwide. This is to help make a significant difference in what concerns the people in the community.
Mayor Aminu said, “Girl children of migrants especially from Africa are the most traumatised due to rape, Female Genital Mutilation, forced marriages, violence in homes and gang syndicates in communities which has devastating impacts. As children it is had for them to navigate through public services. In some households breaking silence attracts backlash, when girls reports such practices in homes extended family members silence them.”
Girl Child Network Worldwide is at the centre of a global commitment to gathering, codifying, training and promoting the experiences and expertise of African girl advocates and marginalised girls who are invisible.
In reaction to the Mayor’s choice of the Girl Child Network Worldwide (GCNW) by Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Deun Adedoyin-Solarin, Chair of Trustees, who was very visible on the front role at the inauguration ceremony of the new Mayor said: “Girl Child Network Worldwide joins calls to bring the girls back trough a global rescue mission. Our journey is from an African village to the global village and we are mobilising global support.
“As a charity that champions and advocates for the rights of girls worldwide, we are dismayed and deeply disturbed with the abduction of girls from Chibok Government Girls School from Northern Nigeria. We are with you campaigners at grassroots in Nigeria who are demanding the immediate release of girls from such unkind men. We are fully aware that the girls are being held as sex slaves and whatever political, religious reasons given by their abductors do not justify such barbaric ways of solving conflict.”
The swearing in ceremony witnessed Mayor Aminu performing his first function as chairman of the council meeting in the Hallow Chambers with all the elected members of the British political party present. Councillor Lib Peck, leader of the Lambeth Council described Mayor Aminu as a selfless community worker with listening ear and passion for service.
The inauguration of Mayor Aminu was a thing of joy for the majority of Lambeth residents and especially Nigerians as the deputy Mayor Donatus Anyanwu is also of Nigerian descent.
The ceremony was attended by a delegation from the Nigeria High Commission UK led by Prince Tajudeen Adeniyi Minister/Special Adviser to the High Commissioner, Mr. Shina Alege Minister/Head of Welfare Section and other members of the Nigerian community in the UK.
It was truly a well deserving honour Mayor Aminu and African Voice says congratulations.
Cllr. Susan Jumoke Fajana-Thomas.
