Former asylum seeker becomes first black mayor

A MERE seven years after he and his family fled to Ireland from Nigeria in the face of religious persecution, a former asylum seeker has become Ireland’s first black mayor.

Councillor Rotimi Adebari was elected the mayor of Portlaoise Town Council by a margin of six votes to three with the support of Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Independent members of the council.

The 43-year-old has a master’s degree in intercultural studies from Dublin City University and works with the local authority in Co Laois co-ordinating integration projects for immigrants. He was elected a councillor in 2004.