Milton Keynes foodbank director wins city's excellence award

Fola Komolafe said she loved "being a black woman doing some great things in Milton Keynes with so many people"

The director of a foodbank has been chosen as a city's first Black Excellence Awards winner.

Fola Komolafe was one of 11 women nominated for the title, which celebrates the positive impacts black women have had on Milton Keynes.

She said she was "super delighted to have won this incredible award" which adds to her appointment as MBE.

Organiser Nana Ofori-Atta Oguntola said she created the award to "celebrate and highlight" the women's "amazing work".

Ms Komolafe received her award from Milton Keynes mayor Mick Legg, in front of 180 guests

Ms Komolafe is also the chief executive of the Christian charity World Vision UK and became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2016.

She said: "I love being a black woman doing some great things in Milton Keynes with so many people.

"I want to inspire, encourage and challenge every person, especially our young ones, to know that they too can be a pioneer of change, giving themselves permission for their own unique story to be written as they pursue their dreams, even if they don't always feel fully prepared for it."

Organiser Nana Ofori-Atta Oguntola said she wanted to "celebrate and highlight the amazing work made by so many amazing women to the city"

The ceremony took place at the Delta Hotel on Saturday night, in front of 180 guests.

The 11 finalists featured in a Black Female Pioneers of Milton Keynes exhibition during Black History Month in October, also created by Ms Oguntola.

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A panel of community and business leaders from the city selected the finalists, as part of a collaboration with Milton Keynes City Council.

An open call for nominations resulted in 11 winners, selected by a panel of community and business leaders

Ms Oguntola said: "As a black woman who is also a storyteller and filmmaker, it is important for me to see representation and stories told of people who are contributing positively but are unseen.

"The Black Excellence Awards provides the platform to showcase and celebrate this excellence so that there is a spotlight on different stories, and storytelling is no longer one sided and people of black heritage who are celebrated can be inspired to continue and others who are working with excellence can be inspired to reach for more."