Ayo Owodunni of Nigeria has been elected as Kitchener, Ontario, Canada’s first black city councillor.
In a hotly contested election for the position, Ayo won the municipal elections for Ward 5.
The five candidates were Mandur Ajmer, Massimi Jon, Muhammad Farah, Najmuddin Naveed, and Owodunni Ayo.
Kelly Galloway-Sealock, a member of the present city council, decided not to run for re-election.
Ayo Owodunni ran his campaign based on three main pledges and justifications – speeding on local roads, keeping taxes low, and housing affordability.
Owodunni said “I’m pushing for safety on our local roads by implementing traffic-calming measures, especially in residential neighborhoods and school zones.
“The issue of speed control is a major concern I have personally heard from the thousands of doors I have knocked on.”
Ayo also hopes to keep taxes at a minimum and choose wisely when it comes to capital investments.
One of the most pressing challenges in Kitchener and most of Canada is housing affordability. Many Kitchener residents are being priced out of the property market as house prices have risen to record highs.
Ayo Owodunni pledged to address this problem and come up with lasting answers. He said “the city needs to work with the region on solutions for affordable housing.”
