Recently, Zulfat Suara, a
Nigerian-American, emerged as the first Muslim lawmaker in Tennessee in the
United States, after making it into the runoff of a Nashville council at-large
election. Her victory at the poll was not only a win for the Nashville
community, but also for Nigeria where she lived until 1993 when her husband won
the Vanderbilt fellowship.
On Tuesday, Uzoma Asagwara, a
Nigerian-Canadian, set a record as the first black person elected to the
Manitoba legislature to represent Union Station constituency. Her victory in
the Manitoba general election broke a 150-year record in the Canadian
parliament as she, alongside Jamie Moses and Audrey Gordon, became the first
elected black members of the Manitoba legislature .
‘VICTORY IS LONG OVERDUE’
Asagwara, a first-generation
Canadian whose parents are Nigerians, says the representation of blacks in the
Manitoba legislature is long overdue. In an interview with City News, she said
it was time for elected officials to represent and reflect the communities they
serve.
“I am the first black and queer
person ever elected to the Manitoba legislature. There has never been a black
person ever elected before to the Manitoba legislature,” she said.
“It (the victory) means that in
this constituency and the greater Manitoba, it is saying it is long overdue
that we have our elected officials representing and reflecting the communities
that they serve. We are going to rejoice tonight, we are going to reach out to
family, friends, and community and tomorrow we get right straight to work.”
COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND VOLUNTEER
Asagwara is a lover of community
activities and volunteering. In 2014,
she founded Queer People of Colour Winnipeg, a Winnipeg-based initiative that
creates safer spaces for and increases the visibility and representation of
queer and transgender people of colour. She also served as a human rights
advocate in the constituency for nearly two decades in Winnipeg, where she
lived, worked, and studied.
She has worked alongside
marginalised and targeted demographics to ensure all voices are heard and
fought for in spaces where critical decisions are made. In an interview with
CTV News, the 39-year-old Nigerian-Canadian said she and her team seek to
ensure that residents of Manitoba have access to good healthcare, jobs,
education and affordable housing.
“I feel amazing, this is an
incredible moment for our team, our communities and union station as a whole. I
have a record in terms of serving communities in Union Station and beyond as a
pyschiatric nurse, as a community specialist, as a grassroots community
organiser. I am very excited as someone who has been investing in community for
a long time and working alongside many communities…. We want to make sure that
all Manitobans have access to a really good healthcare, good jobs, good
education and affordable housing,” she said.
PSYCHIATRIC NURSE AND ENTREPRENEUR
Before she was elected as a
member of the legislative house, Asagwara worked as a psychiatric nurse
specialising in adult and youth mental health and addictions. According to her
LinkedIn profile, she is a consultant, public speaker, entrepreneur, community
advocate, and registered psychiatric nurse with the government of Manitoba. She
is also a member of the Women’s Health Clinic board of directors.
‘RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A ROLE MODEL’
Asagwara considers herself a role
model to inspire the youth in various communities. She mentors young athletes
in downtown Winnipeg, among other places, and she speaks to them about the
importance of education, living authentically and the importance of pursuing
one’s dreams.
“I believe I have a
responsibility to be a positive role model for folks who may not ever think
that they can be black … and queer, and achieve the things that they want to,
or even dream the things that they dare to dream,” Asagwara told CBC News in
2017.
ART LOVER OR ATHLETE? BOTH!
The Nigerian-Canadian is both an
athlete and a lover of art. As a passionate art lover, she is an active board
member of the Plug-In Institute of Contemporary Art. She also collaborated with
many community partners to host events highlighting and celebrating local
talent and showcasing artists from around the world. She is also a lover of
basketball. She is a former University of Winnipeg Women basketball player and
former member of the Canadian National Basketball team.
Asagwara is the first black queer
member of the legislative assembly in the province, building on previous
community work with Queer People of Colour Winnipeg. She rode to victory on the
platform the New Democratic Party (NDP).
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