LIMERICK healthcare professional Suzzie O’Deniyi has been added to the Fianna Fáil ticket to contest the upcoming local elections in the Limerick City North area.
O’Deniyi is now hoping to make history as the first black woman to be elected to Limerick’s Metropolitan and Municipal Districts.
A former pupil of Scoil Mháithar Dé primary school and Scoil Carmel secondary school, she aims to bring her passion for mental health and suicide prevention, enhanced care supports for older people and those with disabilities, recreational initiatives and much more to the role.
“Both my personal and professional experience have enabled me to focus on the improvement in the areas of mental health, better care for our ageing population, re-address community safety and expanding recreational opportunities for families and youths,” O’Deniyi told the Limerick Post.
“Women are incredibly underrepresented in local government, making up just 26 per cent of sitting councillors in Ireland. The gender inequality and lack of representation is a farce.
“I’m running to be a representative and an ardent voice for those who feel unheard. It is also vital to be part of the decision-making process and that is to bring a fresh and creative community-focused perspective to the council. Only nine out of the 40 seats on Limerick County Council are held by women which is just over 22 per cent and not representative of society,” she insisted.
The Fianna Fáil candidate said her main priorities include suicide prevention and mental health initiatives, enhanced care supports for disabilities and older people, housing and education supports, promoting and supporting local businesses and employment, recreational and greenway developments for families and youth.
She also deemed adequate policing and security within the community and improvements in local infrastructure and transport networks as among her priorities.
”My mother relocated to Ireland at the age of five from Nigeria and Limerick became our home. I have been blessed to grow up in this progressive and beautiful city.
“I graduated from University College Dublin obtaining both Level 8 in Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Work and Level 9 PDip in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership.
“It has presented some challenges but equally some great opportunities and that’s why I’m proud to be representing my community as I would like to bring forth the change that’s clearly needed. It is the ideal time for the people of Limerick City North to be represented with dignity, respect, and integrity,” the Caherdavin woman concluded.
