By Eric Elezuo
As Nigerians are busy proving their administrative and political mettle in many places across the globe, Nigerian-British politician, Mrs Abigail Marshall Katung, has emerged as the first African Lord Mayor of Leeds, in the United Kingdom, and has been officially sworn in at a council meeting.
Abigail Marshall Katung takes over the role from Al Garthwaite to become the city’s 130th Lord Mayor, and the first person of African descent to hold the position.
She is the wife of Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, representing Kaduna South Senatorial District.
“Since arriving in Leeds in 2000, the city quickly became my cherished second home,” Mrs Marshall Katung said.
She is an athletics coach, and recently became the Governor of Leeds City College in January 2024.
Her new position as the lord mayor of Leeds has made her the first elected councilor from Africa to hold the council position.
Mrs Katung has also become the second black person after Eileen Taylor and the 130th of all.
Speaking about the historic feat, Mrs Katung said her new position has become a glittering case of contribution for foreign students in the UK celebrated on the African continent.
“It was not just the city where I lived, studied and worked, it’s where I chose to raise my children and become a public servant,” she said.
“My appointment as lord mayor has been widely celebrated in the city’s African community and is a shining example of the enormous contribution international students make to UK society.
“As lord mayor of Leeds, I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure voices are heard from all areas of the city and every triumph is recognised and celebrated.”
MRS. KATUNG AS PRESENTED BY WIKIPEDIA:
“Abigail Wok Marshall Katung was born on December 7, 1975, and is a Nigerian-British politician and wife of the senator representing the Kaduna South senatorial district, Kaduna State, Nigeria, Sunday Marshall Katung. She was born and bred in Nigeria, but moved to the UK to study in the University of Leeds and as of January 2024 is a governor at the Leeds City College. In May 2024 she took up the position of Lord Mayor of Leeds, becoming the first elected councillor from Africa to hold the council position, the second black person after Eileen Taylor and the 130th of all.
“In May 2019 following the Leeds City Council elections, Katung won in the polls to emerge the Little London and Woodhouse Ward representative.
“As of 2020, she was a lead member for the BAME and a BAME staff network member champion in Leeds.
“In 2022, she co-chaired Leeds City Council’s official ‘Food Champion’ alongside the CEO of FareShare Yorkshire, Gareth Batty MBE FRSA. She was also present as a special guest at the Jordan Sinnott Memorial Award at St. Mary’s, Meston.
“After serving an initial term, she contested again and won the Little London and Woodhouse election in May 2023.
“In January 2024, she was elected as the next Lord Mayor of Leeds under the Labour and Co-operative Party, succeeding Al Garthwaite. Her election is for the 2024/2025 term. Katung is the first elected African in the council of Leeds.
