Mavis Amankwah (left) and Susan Fajana-Thomas (right)
Mavis Amankwah (left) and Susan Fajana-Thomas (right)
Distinguished daughters of Africa and GAB Awards Alumni – Mavis Amankwah and Susan Jumoke Fajana-Thomas have made the New Year Honours List 2023 - .the first since His Majesty King Charles III ascended the throne.
2007 GAB Awards alumnus, H.E Mavis Amankwah - British-Ghanaian Entrepreneur, Marketing & PR guru, and Diversity trainer, was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the local community.
2014 GAB Awards alumnus, Councillor Fajana-Thomas - the Cabinet Member for Community Safety in the London Borough of Hackney was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to local government and gender equality.
Amankwah, who only last year was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Association, runs various enterprises including Marvel Business Group, Women Like Me, Marvel Recruit, Rich Visions and Mavis Joy Consultancy.
Mavis Amankwah
Mavis Amankwah
Marvel Business Group Services (MBG) specialises in providing professional Business Support, Grants, and Funding assistance to businesses, entrepreneurs, and organisations of all sizes. The business also consults for CICs, charities, and social enterprises that require funding to grow, and is currently working with 130 clients.
Over the last five years, Mavis has helped businesses, organisations and entrepreneurs secure over £12 million in funding and the figure is rising each month. Mavis and her team assist mostly BAME owned businesses and organisations who are classed as hard to reach, to access millions of funding available to businesses including social enterprises and charities.
Over the past two decades, Mavis has survived two recessions, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic.
Susan Jumoke Fajana-Thomas was born and raised in Nigeria where she obtained a degree in Dramatic Arts - Film and Television Production from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Nigeria. She also studied at Hackney College and London School of Journalism.
Susan Fajana-Thomas
Susan Fajana-Thomas
She moved to London almost 30 years ago following a successful career as a Presenter and Producer with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Having moved to the UK, Susan Jumoke Fajana-Thomas recognised the ability to attain real change for those who needed it the most, so she entered the UK political sphere. She is a Councillor and a former civic Mayor in the London Borough of Hackney.
Through her community and campaigning activities and organizations, Susan Jumoke Fajana-Thomas advocates for gender equality and women’s empowerment, including women’s political participation by providing leadership training and mentorship for young women. She has mentored and supported other Africans to becoming activists and politicians both here in the UK and in Africa.
Susan Jumoke Fajana-Thomas has been highly active in the voluntary sector, providing practical assistance to organisations in her areas of expertise, which include facilitation of community engagement, communication and strengthening of governance and policies.
She is the founder of SFT Foundation Trust and Lilac Lilly Image - organisations supporting families and helping to transform lives to build and develop better communities. SFT Foundation Trust, is a not for profit organisation supporting families in the UK and in Nigeria. SFT Foundation is currently running a mentoring and community parenting project supporting young Black boys and men in inner London. Her organisation in Nigeria supports women entrepreneurship by producing inexpensive cleaning products, including laundry detergent, washing liquid and air-fresheners.
She is a Goodwill Ambassador at Hungarian Trade and Cultural Centre.
Susan Jumoke Fajana-Thomas has served in a variety of public offices including roles as the Chair of African Achievers Awards, President of Nigerian Women in Diaspora (NWIDLF), Ambassador for Peace at Universal Peace Federation, Coordinator of African Women in Diaspora (AWID) and Chair of Aldgate London Chapter of the global women movement - All Ladies League (ALL).