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Former African Independent Television(AIT) presenter, Yemi Adenuga, on Monday became the first ever migrant and black woman to be elected to Meath County Council in Dublin, Ireland.
Yemi, who is married to Nollywood actor, Deji Adenuga, was elected as a Fine Gael councillor for the Navan electoral area in the local elections.
Speaking after winning the election, Adenuga said: “I would never have thought of politics in times past but I’m doing a lot of work for the community already and when Fine Gael approached me, I thought why not -it would give me a bigger platform for the community.
“I’m the first migrant ever on the council and the feedback has been fantastic.
“We’ve been on Gogglebox for the last four years and I like to think that we are the eyes and voice of the people on what is on the TV.
“I’m delighted to be declared the first migrant councillor in Meath and I’m really looking forward to working with the council on issues that affect the people in the town and county.
“This is a victory not just for me but for all women and ethnic minorities.”
Adenuga started her career in broadcasting in 1990 when she passed an audition to become a pioneer staff of the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation’s new FM Radio station, OGBC 2.
Yemi worked at OGBC as a newscaster, scriptwriter, presenter and radio producer.
In 1994, she joined DAAR Communications Plc to become a pioneer member of Nigeria’s first private radio station, Ray Power 100.1 FM where she rose to the position of Programmes Manager.
She joined AIT in 1996 and relocated to Ireland in 2000 with her family.
She is famous for appearing as the matriarch on the Ireland popular television hit show, Gogglebox, along with her husband and their two daughters.
She is also on the board of Cultúr, an organisation that works with migrants, asylum seekers and refugees promoting equal rights and opportunities to develop an intercultural county.