Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), warmly congratulated British-Nigerian Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung on her historic appointment as the Lord Mayor of Leeds for the term 2024-2025.
Councillor Katung, the first elected African in Leeds, currently chairs the Scrutiny Board for Infrastructure, Investment, and Inclusive Growth.
Born on December 7, 1973, Abigail Wok Marshall Katung, a Nigerian-British politician, and wife of Senator Sunday Marshall Katung from Kaduna State, Nigeria, pursued her education at the University of Leeds.
As of January 2024, she serves as governor at Leeds City College and the Lord Mayor of Leeds.
Councillor Katung’s impactful journey includes founding the David Oluwale Memorial Association (DOMA) in 2008, dedicated to the memory of David Oluwale, a Nigerian migrant who tragically drowned in River Aire in 1969.
This marked a significant milestone in 1971 when two British police officers were successfully prosecuted—the first against state officials for the death of a black person.
Elected as the representative for the Little London and Woodhouse Ward in May 2019, Katung, a co-chair of DOMA, continued her advocacy.
In 2020, she served as the lead member for the BAME and championed the BAME staff network in Leeds, contributing to a legacy of positive impact.
