Mr Collins Nweke (born 1965 in Igbuzo, Nigeria) is a Belgian politician of the Green Party currently serving a second term of office as Councillor at the Ostend City Council in West Flanders province. Collins Nweke is of Nigerian origin, and settled in Belgium in 1993. He is the first and so far the only non-Belgian born person to be elected to political office in West Flanders. He is particularly active in social welfare and ethnic minority issues. He stood as a candidate for theEuropean Parliament in the 2014 elections.

Nweke has served as Chief Executive and Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora in Europe (NIDO Europe), and has been active in consultancy and advocacy in the field of socio-economic development for Nigeria and for Africa in general.

Its Friday the 22nd of November 2014, and all roads lead to The Holliday Inn in Stratford City. My mind had been racing all morning and in the last fortnight I had attended over eight events, The strain from the last few days began to drain my energy, but there was something special about todays event, it was The launch of The Focus Disability Foundation, A Registered Charity in The UK supporting the disabled in Nigeria. I met the Founder (Mr Abiodun Enilara Paseda) for the very first time at The True African Heritage Awards in October and instantly I was overwhelmed with the sense of urgency and humility in his eyes, He was a man on a mission with a unique sense of energy and drive to offer support to disabled communities in Nigeria. Mr Paseda set up The Focus Disability Foundation about three years ago and spent quite a lot of money buying wheel chairs in The UK to send to Nigeria, in his view, the government was not doing enough to invest time, resource and care to disabled communities and Mr Paseda in no time converted his frustration into passion. Part of the Role of the Initiative is also working with disadvantaged people to achieve Real Choice, Independence and Opportunities and to improve the mental, physical and social quality of life of disabled people. In a brief interview with Mr Paseda, it was obvious that making a difference in any community also involved a sense of ownership, a sense of initiative and a daring sense of willingness for thriving Role Models to set the pace for others to follow. The event was supported by great Nigerian Role Models in The UK Community including Mrs Shade Olomu – (The Matron of Focus Disability Foundation, ) Dr Dayo Olomu (Award Winning Presenter and Bestselling Author). Dr Olomu was also The MC for the Day. Others included Chief Bimbo Folayan- Chairman of The Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, Mr Richard Oluyinka (TV and Radio Presenter, Author, Musician and Teacher ), Adebeauty Love – CEO of True African Heritage Awards, Mr Oluseyi Ogunlana- CEO of Fiesta Magazine, Ibitola Adebayo (Author and Senior CRA at Icon ), MC Tunde Bella (Clinical Technician and MC) and many more great people.

Special performances by Gospel Sensation – Dolly P and Jazz Artist – Ben Saxy also spiced up their event with a refreshing force of raw energy LOTS OF DONATIONS were made to FOCUS DISABILITY FOUNDATION on the day to encourage and boost their cause in promoting the disabled in Nigeria.

Mr Dark Zac- CEO of ZIMLINK was also at the event to provide wonderful video and photo footage.

Tony Tokunbo Eteka Fernandez

Mr Sunny Lambe is A Community leader and a business management consultant with over 20 years experience; ranging from small and medium enterprise development, advice, mentoring, training, and management consultancy services covering public, private and voluntary.

He has worked on a significant number of social and economic development projects and policy initiatives relating to employment, enterprise, international development, community empowerment and social inclusion such as the New Deal Self Employment Option, National Neighbourhood Renewal Initiative, National Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative, school and college mergers, Black History Month, Youth economic empowerment initiatives, etc.

He became a Labour Party member because of its ethos on fairness, tolerance, equality and social justice. These ideals are very core to his personal belief;

He strongly believes in giving something back and being part of the change He wants to see through active involvement. It is therefore not surprising that he has been actively involved in a significant number of community development initiatives for Promoting Diversity and Community Cohesion-He formed the Confederation of AfricanProfessionals UK formed in 1998, representing interests of African professionals. He was also a member of Southwark Group of Tenants and Residents Organisation for several years, representing the interests of Southampton Way Tenants and Residents Association, dealing with issues around repairs, homelessness, re-housing, property insulation, children’s play area, cleaning, lift breakdowns, antisocial behaviour issues, etc.

While He was the chairman of Southwark Black History Month and Black Heritage Organisation (SBHO) for several years, He took the Black History Month event celebration to the Peckham Square for the first time in 2005 in order to use it as a vehicle to ‘building community cohesion and a spirit of togetherness’ among our diverse communities.

Mr Lambe is  also a  community leader with a very active Involvement and participation in numerous community initiatives such as Southwark Alliance Enterprise/Local Economic Partnership Board (deputy chair), school governing bodies, tenants and residents associations, church council, and many other voluntary professional contributions. His  leadership style transcends ethnic, tribal and racial divides!

He strongly belief that people’s life chances can be improved and economic prosperity

achieved through compassionate economic policies which recognise self employment as a

viable employment option. This was why he founded the Basic Business Initiative (BBI) in

2001 with a mission to promoting entrepreneurship and self economic empowerment as a

means to helping people climb out of poverty and social exclusion. He was the vice chair of

Southwark Local Economy Group for several years, shaping employment and enterprise

policies and delivery strategies across the borough. Despite the challenging economic

climate, BBI continues to provide free advice, information, guidance, mentoring and support to the unemployed, most especially our young people.

In 1989, He became the first leader of the Union of Communications Workers, Associate Grade Post Persons in my local Rathbone Place delivery office London, from 1989 to 1994, fighting for the rights of part-time postal workers, representing them at disciplinary hearings, union and management decision making meetings, etc. The part time workers’ rights later became a Labour Party and government policy when Labour came to power in 1997.

In 2001, He established the Peckham Supplementary School (PSS) which was

launched by the Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman MP, in response to the unfortunate death

of Damilola Taylor, rising youth crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. The

project provided young people with support in English, maths, Black History, drama

and other youth engagement activities across the borough and beyond.

Furthermore, in 2007, He also founded the Sunny Lambe Young Entrepreneur Game

Award (SLYEG) now called Young Entrepreneur Game Award (YEGA). YEGA is an

annual enterprise competition that allows young adults between ages of 13 and 30

to test their business and enterprise idea out with the aim to giving them self

economic empowerment.

In 2004, having been the chairman of Southwark Black History Month event for

several years, He decided to launch the annual Black Business Awards as part BBI UK’s

activities in order to recognise and celebrate Diversity and Achievement in

Southwark and beyond. The event has now become an annual calendar event.

For more information, please visit www.bbinitiative.com

He became a Labour Party member in 1999 because of its ethos on fairness, tolerance,

equality and social justice.

Mr Lambe has  a strong passion for international development. He believes prosperity can be spread through the kindness of a few people and some practical self economic and

social empowerment programmes that can be introduced with minimum fuzz, by our

individual and collective will to make a difference.

He has  worked with the Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman QC MP onthe Shadow International Development Policy Review Task Group on Business and Enterprise a couple of years ago, which is hoped to shape future Labour Government Policy on International Development Aid and local transformational

Give Something Back!

As part of his ‘give something back initiatives’ both here in the UK and

Africa, he started the rebuilding of my old primary school, IMG Primary School

Ibadan Oyo State in 2008. A whole block of two classrooms was completed and

furnished through financial donations and support of various kinds from friends,

families and associates. We still need books and science equipment for the young

people. And, as a former student of Methodist High School in Ibadan, Oyo State,

Nigeria, his home town and where he had my secondary school education, this is

another project I’m very passionate about starting in the near future.

If you are interested in supporting any of his initiatives through financial

donations and or in-kind support, please feel free contact him.

Awards and Honours

He has won several awards for my positive professional and civic contributions; among which are

o Honorary Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Southwark,

Southwark Civic Award, May 2012 (BBI UK)

o Professional Excellence-Gathering of Africa’s Best Award, October 2012

o Change Makers Exemplary Business Award 2011

o Change Makers Best Practice Award 2010

o Honorary Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell,

Southwark Civic Award, May 2006 (Personal)

o Several other awards nominations

Email: sunnyalambe@gmail.com and sunny@sunnylambe.com

LINKS: http://www.bbinitiative.com; http://www.sunnylambe.com and http://www.salassociates.com