Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung was formally declared as the upcoming Lord Mayor of Leeds after the council’s yearly general assembly yesterday.
Councillor Marshall Katung succeeds Al Garthwaite as the 130th Lord Mayor of the city, making history as the first person of African descent to occupy the office.
Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, a Nigerian senator and the husband of Councillor Marshall Katung, will provide her with support during her term as Lord Mayor.
Born in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, Councillor Marshall Katung came to the UK in 2000 to pursue postgraduate studies in the Politics & International Studies Department at the University of Leeds.
After her father passed away in 1999, she decided to honor his memory by studying in the UK. She credits her father with having had a “profound influence” on her life and instilling in her the value of “education for service.”
Councillor Marshall Katung, who had gone from being a student to a professional, started her own company and enjoyed the responsibilities and joys of being a mother to her twin boys, who are currently attending university.
Breaking down barriers, Councillor Marshall Katung was elected in 2019 to represent the Little London and Woodhouse ward in the city center, making history as the first African to hold a ward position on Leeds City Council. With more than 82 languages spoken there, this ward is among Leeds’s most culturally diverse ones. Afterwards, in the elections of 2023, she was elected again.
Read Also:
Councillor Marshall Katung has taken on a number of leadership roles within Leeds City Council. These included serving as chair of the scrutiny boards for infrastructure, investment, and inclusive growth as well as adult health and active lifestyles. She chaired the hate crime strategic board and further education for 14–19 years, was the lead member for faith and belief, and is a champion of food.
Outside of politics, Councillor Marshall Katung is a passionate sprinter and coach. He also holds positions as co-chair of the David Oluwale Memorial Association, governor of Leeds City College, and trustee of Age UK and Caring Together.
The newly appointed Lord Mayor has, as is customary, selected a charity to support during her term. The Leeds Community Foundation has been selected by Councillor Marshall Katung. She selected this charity because it supports a variety of small, local charities that address important societal injustices, including mental health, digital inclusion, food poverty, and health disparities—all issues that are near and dear to her.
Councillor Marshall Katung will be supported throughout her tenure as Lord Mayor by her husband, Nigerian Senator and Lord Mayor Consort, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung.
Speaking of her appointment, The Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung said: “It is with great appreciation and humility that I embrace the privilege of becoming this great city’s 130th Lord Mayor. Since arriving in Leeds in 2000, the city quickly became my cherished second home. It was not just the city where I lived, studied, and worked, it’s where I chose to raise my children and become a public servant.
“My appointment as Lord Mayor has been widely celebrated in the city’s African community and is a shining example of the enormous contribution international students make to UK society. As Lord Mayor of Leeds, I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure voices are heard from all areas of the city and every triumph is recognised and celebrated.”
