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‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja

 

DAILY COURIER – Nigeria’s Ayotunde Owodunni has been elected a City Councillor in Kitchener, London Ontario, Canada.

Owodunni won the Municipal elections for Ward 5 in a keenly contested race for the office after the incumbent Kelly Galloway-Sealock said he was not seeking re-election.

The Senior Manager at the Black Professionals in Tech Network is the first black person to be elected into the position.

Owodunni ran his campaign on three promises: speeding on local roads, keeping taxes low, and housing affordability.

He said, “I’m pushing for safety on our local roads by implementing traffic-calming measures, especially in residential neighbourhoods and school zones.

“The issue of speed control is a major concern I have personally heard from the thousands of doors I have knocked on.”

He also said he would work to keep taxes low and make smart decisions when it comes to capital expenditures.

Owodunni promised to tackle rising cost of housing, saying “the city needs to work with the region on solutions for affordable housing.

Also an author, Owodunni has spent the last 10 years of his career working as a consultant, facilitator, and trainer, supporting businesses in their efforts to promote learning and bring diversity, inclusion and cultural understanding in the workplace.

He has worked with small businesses, large corporations, and non-profit clients in a variety of industries including well-known brands like TVC, Spotify, Canada Life, Microsoft, Thomson Reuters, CIBC, TMX Group Hydro One and Prime Target Consulting.

In his reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement, said the record-setting election of the Nigerian, the first ever for a black person highlighted the various initiatives undertaken by him as a consultant, facilitator, and trainer, supporting businesses in their efforts to promote learning and bring diversity, inclusion and cultural understanding in the workplace.

The President urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to always promote the government’s development agenda wherever they lived and “never be afraid to dream big and never give up on your dreams.”

President Buhari congratulated Owodunni and his spouse, Folake and their two children, on this very important election victory.