From Christy Anyanwu in London
Susan Jumoke Fajana–Thomas is an accomplished British politician who has established herself as a prominent community campaigner with over 30 years experience.
She is the founder of SFT Foundation Trust and Lilac Lilly Image, organisations that are supporting families .
She is a member of Hackney Council and the former Civic Mayor of the borough.
In 2018 she was named in 100 Most Reputable Africans in the UK. In this interview with Sunday Sun; she spoke about politics, state of the Nigerian nation and lots more.
What has been happening to you now?
Things are going well, and I am proudly settling into a Labour government after 14 years of challenging Conservative government. As you know, I am a Labour Party politician, and it was not easy to struggle in opposition for 14 years. I sought selection to become a member of Parliament in the last election, but it didn’t happen. I’m glad I’m still here and delivering for the people of Hackney.
How has it been since the Labour Party came into government? Compared to the previous administration, what differences have you noticed over the past few years?
It’s premature to judge, but being in government differs from when you are in opposition. The Labour Party is a mission-driven government. We went into the general election in July with a strong manifesto consisting of five missions, namely : to kickstart the economy, make Britain a clean, superpower with zero-carbon electricity by 2030, halve serious violence on our streets and raise confidence in our enforcement and judiciary systems, create more opportunities for all and build a better National Health Service (NHS). We are delivering in all of these areas. In addition, It’s easier to lobby your party in government than to lobby the opposition government because, importantly, the majority of the people in Westminster, including the Prime Minister, share the same values with us at the local level.
I’d like to know exactly what your position is right now and how long you’ve been here?
I’m a councillor and a cabinet member in the London Borough of Hackney. As a cabinet member, I have political leadership and strategic direction for areas such as crime reduction, anti-social, policing, licensing, tackling violence against women and girls, Night Time Economy, environmental protection, and environmental health. It’s quite a wide area of portfolio. My position is like a Commissioner in Nigeria; in the UK, we have two tiers of government, the Local Government and Parliament, with two Houses. Unlike Nigeria, where you have three-tiers, Local Government, State and Federal.
When it comes to safety, what are the initiatives that you’re putting in place to ensure safety regulations in Hackney?
As a local authority, we collaborate closely with the police and other agencies to ensure our community remains safe through the statutory framework of the Community Safety Partnership. We use what we call Serious Violence Duty Needs Assesment (SNA) to help prevent and reduce serious violence. The SNA helps inform the development of a local strategy to prevent and reduce serious violence and is published annually. In terms of practical things, we have enforcement officers working with the police, we have CCTV on our streets, improve lighting, work with young people who might be at risk of going into criminal activities, prepare for emergencies, we have a special team that works in the community to prevent hate crime, and knife and gun crimes.
How does Nigerian heritage influence your work as a councillor in Hackney?
Life in the UK is quite different, and it can be challenging for someone like me, who grew up in Nigeria and moved here as an adult. However, Nigerian “can-do” attitude, hardworking nature, and intelligence are hereditary and have helped me on my journey. I often watch the ‘Proudly to be a Nigerian’ video circulating on social media for inspiration, as it reminds me of the greatness of Nigerians. Yes we no dey carry last! In my role, I am grateful for the opportunity I have. This job requires intelligence, a clear understanding of what I’m doing, and a strong foundation of knowledge, skills, and experience. It is a highly sensitive area, so thank goodness for the Naija genes.
What opportunities do you see for Nigeria and the UK, particularly in areas of trade, education, and healthcare?
I believe there are many opportunities for us to collaborate. The historical connections between the two countries pose both challenges and opportunities. The UK government has collaborated with Nigerian citizens, NGOs, businesses, and the Nigerian government. The UK’s objective in Nigeria is to support a more stable, inclusive, resilient, healthy, and prosperous Nigeria that sees the UK as a strategic partner for peace, climate action, trade, and development. The UK already has annual bilateral dialogues on issues of shared importance including security and defence, migration, justice and home affairs and economic development.
In terms of education, many Nigerians have been trained in the UK. However, the number of Nigerian international students in the UK has declined for various reasons, including visa challenges and the weakness of the Naira. Currently, it is estimated that seven per cent of international students in the United Kingdom are from Nigeria, which is still a lot.
Also, there are individuals or state collaborations, for instance, my father figure, Aare Afe Babalola, the founder of ABUA in 2023, donated £10 million to King’s College London to establish the Afe Babalola African Centre for Transnational Education. The center’s goal is to provide educational opportunities and access to young Africans who might not otherwise have them. Through Cater and Merger, the convener of the London Political Summit, Akwa Ibom State students participated in an exchange educational programme earlier this year. Last year, the governor of Akwa Ibom was one of the guests from Africa. The discussions about collaboration at that summit resulted in a partnership that brought around 20 young people from Akwa Ibom to the UK early this summer.
I’m aware that Imperial College London is engaging with young people in Nigeria through the efforts of a Nigerian lecturer, Dr Sunday Popo Ola from the institution. There are engagement between the UK and Nigeria, we just need to strengthen and structure them more effectively.
Your party is now the ruling party in the UK after a long time. So, what do you intend to do differently from the former party? What are we expecting from your party?
The first point to emphasize is that the Labour Party is fundamentally different from the Conservative Party because we prioritize strong communities. Unlike the Conservatives, Labour politicians are driven by a desire to improve the system so that everyone can benefit. We prioritise delivering value for everyone in the UK, which is essential to us. Our focus revolves around supporting the most vulnerable members of our community, creating opportunities for young people, working class and fighting inequalities in our society. As I mentioned earlier, the Labour government has developed policies to benefit the people of our country. In areas such as the economy, the NHS, education, crime reduction, clean energy, and more, Labour has the best strategies to get the country back on track after the failures of the Conservatives.
In Nigeria, we have the Labour Party and in some other countries, there are Labour Parties. Do you have the same modus operandi?
The UK Labour Party was established in 1900 as a response to the needs of a new century. Its creation was the culmination of many years of effort by working-class individuals, trade unionists, and socialists, all united by the goal of ensuring that working-class voices were represented in the British Parliament. The values of equality and social justice are central to the foundation of our party. While similarly, the Nigerian Labour Party was established by the Nigerian Labour Congress with the aim of promoting and defending social democratic principles to achieve social justice. I would not say we have the same modus operandi.
How is racial discrimination now in the UK?
Racial discrimination is a real and present issue in the UK. As a black African, I have experienced it and suffered because of it. Within any society, there are both good and bad individuals, I mean individual acts of racism. Institutional racism exists within our system, either deliberately or inadvertently. Black and global majority communities in the UK face challenges related to inequality in education, health, housing, and the judiciary. However, as a society, we are actively working to address racism, and many people are standing up to challenge it. As a committed advocate against racism, I will always call it out whenever I see it.
As a woman in politics here, what would you say are the challenges you’ve faced so far and how have you overcome them?
Politics is challenging, and you must be resilient to succeed. People will challenge you, whether you are a man or a woman in leadership, but becoming a female leader presents unique difficulties. As a woman of African heritage, I face intersectional challenges such as the lack of family roots in the UK, harassment, limited career growth opportunities, and discrimination. Society’s mindset about men as traditional leaders is changing, but we still have a long way to go for gender equality. Having said that, there are other women who are either envious of the power and platform that other women have, and they will adopt the pulling down syndrome. It is important to recognize that, as a woman, there are some individuals who may not view you as a suitable leader. They may underestimate your abilities, perceive you as a dependent individual, and, most notably, create an environment that undermines your confidence, leading you to doubt yourself. What I’ve done over the years is I’ve stood up for myself and I’ve learned to pick my battles because it’s not all battles you want to fight.
I was going to ask what you have done to promote gender equality over the years and I think you have answered that?
I am a campaigner for gender equality. When I began my political career, one of my main goals was to support younger women and those who aspire to enter into politics or take on leadership roles. I am a member of the various women organizations working to advance gender parity around the world. I am a member of the Women’s Network with the Labour Party and an executive member of the Fabian Women’s Network, the Women Economic Forum, African Women in Europe, and Nigerian Women in Diaspora. Through these organizations, I have been fortunate to contribute to initiatives that empower women and address gender inequality. I am proud of the progress we have made in advancing gender equality in the UK. As a gender equality campaigner, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important cause. I am also honoured to have been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles III in 2023 for my contributions to the advancement of gender equality and local government.
Let’s take you back to the beginning. What was it like for you? How did you get to become a politician in the UK? How did you get here? How did it all start?
I have been an advocate for as long as I can remember, inspired by my late father’s work in the community. I always describe myself first as an advocate and second as a politician. As politicians, your primary role is to represent the people and advocate for better lives. Sometimes, we see politicians getting carried away, focusing more on policies as policymakers than on their representation.You were meant to be representing people. I have been active as a woman for a long time, even before I left Nigeria. You might be too young to remember this, but when General Babangida was in power in Nigeria, his wife, Miriam Babangida, initiated a programme called Better Life for Rural Women. I was involved in that movement, as well as in a related initiative called Urban Women, which was led by Feyi George, the First Lady of Ondo State. This involvement took place while I was a TV presenter at NTA in Akure.
Equipped with these skills and experiences, from Nigeria. When I got to the UK, I got involved with various organisations, such as the London Asylum and Refugees Network, as a mentor and supported many refugee families from Eastern Europe, advocating for residents living in social housing, setting up a residents association and a resource centre. It was all the work I did in the local community that made me receive encouragement from the local Labour Party leadership to stand as a local councillor in the late 90s.
What about your charity, the SFT Foundation Trust, is it still on? What’s the latest?
The SFT Foundation Trust is committed to its mission of supporting families from disadvantaged communities by providing both practical and emotional assistance. Many community and charitable organizations have faced challenges with funding due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Though we may not have a lot of funding, we do our best to support families, young people, and vulnerable individuals in the community through our online wellbeing promotion. For me, SFT is not just about myself but about how I can use the organization to give back to the community, both now and after I’m gone. I’m not a politician who wants to hold office for life. There will come a time when I want to step back from politics and allow younger individuals to take the lead. SFT represents the organization and vision that I am committed to supporting. I want to use this platform to help others for as long as I live.
You are so deeply rooted in British politics, would you at any point leave your position to become a technocrat in Nigeria?
I don’t know about technocrats, but If there is an opportunity for me to contribute to Nigeria, I will definitely be there. Over the past three decades, I have developed a diverse skillset that makes me believe I would be an asset to any government.
Recently, I had a discussion with a colleague about security and policing in Nigeria. I expressed that I would like the Nigerian government to introduce Neighborhood Policing in the country. If an opportunity arises, I would like to offer my support for this initiative. The Nigerian government should address the issue of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). I am very passionate about this topic and want to contribute to solutions. I am aware that some governors’ wives and individuals with NGOs are doing significant work in this area, but we need to unite and ensure that violence against women is addressed effectively not only in Nigeria, but in Africa as a whole.
What would be your words for politicians in Nigeria?
In most interviews that I’ve done over the years, they ask me about the Nigerian politicians and this is one thing that I always say. It’s about creating a better life for the people and being accountable. It’s about seeing themselves first as advocates. And that is lacking in Nigerian democracy. The majority of Nigerian politicians are selfish, with due respect to very few Nigerian politicians. In the UK, politicians’ salaries are seen as allowance. Of course, we get paid, but enough to pay your bills and live a comfortable life. While politics in Nigeria is seen as a get rich quick career, a way to amass wealth. Rather than going into politics, to represent people and make policies that will better the lives of people. Not until Nigerian politicians start thinking that way, that they are there to make policies that will better the lives of people rather than go in there to amass wealth and make themselves rich, things would not change. So my words for them, please make yourself accountable to people who supposedly voted for you. Represent them, and make their lives better. And implement policies that would better their lives and future generations.
For 2027 election in Nigeria, Is there room for Diaspora voting?
Although it’s unlikely for 2027, we in the Diaspora, alongside the brilliant NiDCOM, continue to advocate for amending the law to permit this.. I understand that, as a politician, there are many logistics involved; conducting elections overseas is not easy. In addition to logistics, a substantial investment is needed to ensure fairness and credibility. I would love it to happen, and the journey continues. I believe the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, while receiving the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matters, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in his office confirmed that the Commission had long begun the process of developing guidelines, regulations and policy in anticipation of an amendment to the legal framework to enable people living in the Diaspora, vote.
Why is the Diaspora voting important?
It is important to us because it means our participation in democracy. We are a group of Nigerians who remit about 22 billion dollars to the Nigerian economy annually. Nigerians in the Diaspora are engaging with Nigeria not only to boost to the economy, but also by giving back through their skills and professions. While democracy cannot be reduced to elections or explained solely by voting, very few questions about democracy can be answered without referring to elections.
Any lessons for Nigeria politicians on the last US election that gave Donald Trump victory?
Honestly, I don’t see any lessons. I’m not a fan of the president-elect. Trump’s victory is painful on many grounds. His political party, the Republicans, focused on understanding the changes of electorate and addressing their concerns to deliver victory for Trump. In Nigeria, democracy operates differently, focusing on exploiting the vulnerabilities of the electorate instead of understanding their needs. In a nutshell, comparing US democracy is like comparing apples to oranges.