by Lekan Olanrewaju

Score one for women everywhere. Well, Nigerian women, at least. Actually, Nigerians everywhere. Councillor Kate Anolue has recently been officially unveiled as the new Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield in the United Kingdom.

She was unveiled in a ceremony earlier this week where she took over from the previous Mayor, Christiana During.

Anolue, who used to be a midwife in her home town in Nanka, Anambra State, was also made a chieftain in her village on account of her accomplishments in Enfield. She moved to Edmonton in May 1972 to study nursing and emerged as a midwife. She went on to become a midwifery sister at North Middlesex Hospital in 1984, and according to her, has delivered more than a thousand babies.

“In my village people recognise that I am doing something worthwhile,” she said, speaking on being a role model to women in her hometown. “It is a very real honour and I’m thrilled. I am so proud of this.”

“I have spent all this time delivering babies” she continued. “I need to know that someone is looking after them. It is a big responsibility. It is a dignified and honourable thing to do, and I can do it.”

She also says she plans to raise money for children’s charities including the E18HTEEN project which supports teenagers between 16-19 in Enfield, Barnet and Haringey, who are about to leave care, as well as a parent-led group called The Voice, which helps children and sufferers of sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia will also benefit from the fundraising.