Another Nigerian, Mrs Victoria Obaze from Imo State, made history yesterday after she was sworn into British office. She is the first black female civic Mayor of London Borough of Tower Hamlets, United Kingdom.

 

Similarly, they swore Mr Ernest Ezeajughi and Mrs Kate Anorue into office as Mayors of London Borough of Brent and Enfield respectively. They were both from Anambra State

 

 

Obaze reportedly contested in three previous councillorship elections in 2010, 2014 and 2016. However, she lost but eventually succeeded in an election conducted on 5th May 2018 in Whitechapel Ward.

 

She also became the Council’s Deputy Speaker after her Councillor colleagues nominated her. She has taken over the mantle as Mayor of London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

 

In a statement obtained by NAN about her history, her close associate and UK Chapter Coordinator, Ms Blessing Chijekwu revealed what drives Obaze.

 

 

She shared:

“For Councillor (Cllr) Obaze, life is all about service to humanity with diligence. Her political experience started when she was elected as one of the board of directors to oversee the regeneration of her area, the Ocean Estate, in the 1980s.

 

“The move motivated her to get into politics having noticed that there were no black women in the council chambers. This led her to open a project named Healthy Life Style for Stepney Women, East London.

 

“The project was funded by the local authority through Ocean African Caribbean Association which she and her late husband, Chief Evangelist Charles Obaze, co-founded.

 

“She also established Ocean Saturday School aimed at ensuring school attainment for children, as well as Ocean Football Club through which young boys were able to have residential football experiences with Chelsea Football Club.

 

“Above all, Cllr Obaze loves God with a passion. She is a member of Parochial Church Council (PCC), as well as an Executive Council member at St Dunstan’s Church of England Parish in Stepney.

 

“She is also a Secondary School governor in Tower Hamlets and a habitual visitor to the elderly and physically challenged in the community.”

 

Victoria Obaze has four children and two grandchildren. She also attended West London College and Metropolitan University. There, she studied Business Administration and Community Sector Management at different times.

 

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