Shulamite Ezechi has been named Social Leader of the Year at the Scottish Women’s Awards, marking a significant recognition for the Nigerian-born community leader and founder of ANYiSO Charity Organization.

Ezechi, an author and women’s empowerment advocate, was recognized for her work supporting women, children, young people and families across Scotland, particularly people from ethnic minority, refugee and asylum-seeking communities.

Her recognition also carried a wider significance. Ezechi was the only African recipient among this year’s award winners and the only Black woman to receive an award, placing the work of an African migrant woman and grassroots organization at the centre of one of Scotland’s prominent celebrations of women’s achievements.

A name rooted in belonging

The name ANYiSO comes from an Igbo expression meaning “We Belong”, a principle that sits at the heart of the organization’s work.

Registered as a charity, ANYiSO works with women, children, young people and families experiencing disadvantage. Its programmes are designed not only to provide immediate assistance but also to help people develop the confidence, skills and connections needed to become more independent.

For Ezechi, that work has been built around a simple premise: belonging can be the starting point for empowerment.

From immediate support to long-term opportunity

ANYiSO provides a range of services responding to practical and social challenges within the communities it serves.

Its programmes include a food bank that does not require vouchers, English language classes, digital skills training, drop-in sessions, employability support, and health and wellbeing programmes.

Children and young people also participate in music, creative and educational activities designed to encourage self-expression, build confidence and strengthen relationships.

The breadth of the organization’s work reflects an approach that goes beyond responding to immediate hardship. By combining practical support with education, skills development and community connection, ANYiSO seeks to help individuals and families build greater independence and participate more fully in society.

What the award represents

The Social Leader of the Year award recognizes leadership that creates a measurable social impact. In Ezechi’s case, that leadership has been expressed through community organizing, advocacy and the creation of opportunities for people who may otherwise face barriers to inclusion.

Her recognition comes at a significant moment for ANYiSO, which recently marked its tenth anniversary.

A decade of community work has brought the organization from its founding vision to an established platform supporting women, children, young people and families.

The award therefore represents more than an individual achievement. It also reflects the contribution of the trustees, staff, volunteers, funders, partners and supporters who have helped sustain the organization, as well as the communities whose participation gives its work meaning.

A wider significance for African women

Ezechi’s recognition also provides a visible example of the contribution African and migrant women are making within Scottish communities.

Across migrant communities, women are establishing organizations, supporting families, mentoring young people, advocating for vulnerable groups and creating opportunities for others. Much of this work takes place at grassroots level, often without the visibility that accompanies more established institutions.

Ezechi’s award brings one such story into the public spotlight.

For African women building lives and careers outside their countries of birth, the recognition demonstrates that leadership can emerge from community service and that an organization founded around the needs of a local community can grow into an influential force.

It also highlights the importance of recognizing the women whose contributions are often measured not by personal achievement, but by the opportunities they create for others.

Entering a second decade

As ANYiSO begins its second decade, Ezechi’s focus remains centred on the organization’s founding priorities: empowering women, supporting children and young people, and helping families overcome disadvantage.

The Scottish Women’s Awards recognition offers a moment to reflect on how far that work has come, while also drawing attention to the work that remains.

For Ezechi, the message extends beyond the award itself. It is a call for women to recognize the value of their voices, experiences and ambitions, regardless of where they come from.

Her journey from Nigeria to community leadership in Scotland offers a story of representation, but also of service: a reminder that leadership can begin with identifying a need, building around it and creating space for others to belong.

By Umm e Habiba, Pakistan.