To keep to tradition that had spanned many tenures of different First Citizens of various boroughs in Great Britain to hold their annual Civic Service event around this time of the year, Councillor Ernest Ezeajughi, as the first citizen of Brent hosted Brent’s 2019/20 Civic year in style.

In the packed Brent Civic Centre, Councillor Ernest promised to strive to raise funds for his “two amazing charities to support some of the most vulnerable in the society.” Working with the Sickle Cell Society, a local charity in Brent as well as collaborating with The Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) in Anambra State, Nigeria, Mayor Ezeajughi hopes to raise funds to tackle the problem of Sickle Cell disease during his year in office.

Similarly, he is working with the Jason Roberts Foundation, a local charity based in Stonebridge which is delivering an Anti Knife and Gun Crime initiative. He urged everyone in Brent to challenge knife and gun crime. Available statistics show that as of June 16 2019, there have been at least 56 murders in London this year, many of them are sad victims of the gun and knife crime epidemic.

Mayor Ezeajughi noted that it is a great privilege and honour to have been elected as Mayor of the great borough he has called home since 2004.

Paying tribute, he thanked his fellow councillors, mayors from neighbouring London Boroughs, former mayors of Brent, Brent employees, and his friends and family for the huge support he has received since his election as Mayor.

The event which started at exactly 6:30 pm when the Mayor’s attendant announced the mayoral procession, followed by a welcome speech by Carolyn Downs CBE, the Chief Executive of Brent Council. She extolled the excellent qualities of Mayor Ezeajughi in his role as First Citizen of the Borough. The Queen’s representative in Brent, Mei Sim Lai, then spoke about her support for Mayor Ezeajughi throughout his year in office.

Earlier, Fr. Albert Ofere led the opening prayers while Fr John Menonkari spoke on behalf of Rt. Revd. John Sherrington, the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminister.

In their various speeches, John James and Otis Roberts the respective representatives of Sickle Cell Foundation and Jason Roberts Foundation explained the various contributions they have been making in their charities for the benefit of communities.

Apart from conventional music that entertained the audience, Igbaeze group also entertained the audience with alternative melodies.