By. Seyi Adeyemi.
London, United Kingdom — 24 October 2026
I was privileged and honoured to attend the 23rd ARA Awards Dinner, held on Saturday, 24 October 2026, at the Hilton London Tower Bridge. The prestigious event was organised by the Building Block Initiative (BBI) and hosted by Cllr. Sunny Lambe, the immediate past Mayor of Southwark.
The occasion brought together distinguished personalities and community stakeholders to celebrate outstanding contributions, recognise leadership, and honour individuals making a meaningful difference in their communities.
I am deeply grateful to the organisers for recognising and honouring me as a Community Leader and Diaspora Champion. The award was presented by Cllr. Naima Ali, former Mayor of Southwark, making the occasion particularly memorable and significant.
With the Mayor of Southwark at the awards
This recognition is both an honour and a renewed call to service. I remain committed to promoting community development, strengthening diaspora engagement, fostering meaningful partnerships, and advancing initiatives that contribute to social progress, inclusive leadership, and sustainable development.
With the host Clir Lambe
I sincerely appreciate the Building Block Initiative, the event host, Cllr. Sunny Lambe, the award presenter, Cllr. Naima Ali, who is also a former Mayor of Southwark, also worthy of appreciation is the current Worshipful Mayor of Southwark, Clir. Claire Sheppard, and everyone who contributed to making the evening a memorable celebration of service, leadership, and community achievement.
I receive this honour with humility and gratitude, and I dedicate it to all those who continue to work tirelessly to build stronger communities, bridge cultural divides, and create opportunities for positive change for a better future for all.
Mazi Godson Azu
International Development Expert | Global Affairs Analyst | Community Leader | Diaspora Champion
