16th September 2024
NILGA in association with MME ThinkTank hosted a special event aimed at encouraging more MME members into local government and politics.
The event MME – participation- exploring barriers, exploding myths seeking solutions, was hosted in the Long Gallery, and was well attended by political representatives.
The aim of the event was to encourage more MME representatives into politics, as numbers are currently very low. NILGA is working alongside the MME ThinkTank and Northern Ireland African Caribbean Leadership Consortium (NIACLC) to rectify this situation.
Commenting on the event, NILGA President Councillor Alison Bennington, who welcomed everyone on Saturday morning, said, “ This is an appropriate event for NILGA to take a lead in, building on our existing work in encouraging minority groups to vote and to participate in electoral politics through our ‘Be a Councillor, Make a Difference’ campaign. I am keen to ensure that democratic participation in Northern Ireland continues to thrive, with our elected representatives as a visible representation of our community as a whole.”
Alfred Abolarin, Founder of the Migrant and Minority Ethnic Thinktank and the African and Caribbean Leadership Consortium NI said, “This is a significant moment of reflection as we mark the International Day of Democracy. A moment to revisit the essence of democracy and to take a closer look at the principles of participation, equality, equity, collaboration and trust. A time to recognise our interconnectedness and interdependence.”
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