Minister nominated for top Asian award
A Rutherglen woman who this year became the Church of Scotland’s first Asian minister has been nominated for a prestigious award.
Aquila Singh, minister at Fernhill and Cathkin Parish Church, has been named a finalist in the Woman of the Year category at this year’s Scottish Asian and Business Awards.
The former computing teacher hit the headlines in January when she was ordained and inducted into the Neilvaig Drive church.
The historic nature of Aquila’s appointment and the sterling work she has done in extending the hand of friendship to people both in and outside of her congregation has been recognised in her award nomination.
“I had no idea I was nominated and I have no idea who it was who put me forward,” Aquila confessed.
“I didn’t know, but apparently on September 17 there was a media campaign and people voted on Facebook. The first I heard about it was a couple of weeks ago when someone from the awards emailed me to say I had been nominated and I was on the list of finalists.
“It’s so humbling that people cared enough to vote and took the time to do that.”
The Scottish Asian business awards are in their 12th year. They allow members of the public to nominate and vote for people in the Asian community who they believe have excelled in a number of areas.
Aquila has been recognised for her work within the Fernhill and Cathkin area where she has in the past 11 months become a well known and friendly face in the community.
She added: “It’s really nice to have a nod from the Asian business community.
“A lot of these people in the Asian community have got businesses they have started from scratch and worked their way up. It’s flattering that I – a church minister – am in with that mix.
“I’m overwhelmed.”
Explaining she was born in Pakistan and moved to Scotland when she was aged two, Aquila said the Asian Business Awards were a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the contribution Asian immigrants and their descendants are making to Scottish society.
The award winners will be revealed at a ceremony in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza hotel tomorrow evening, Thursday.
It’s so humbling that people cared enough to vote and took the time to do that . . .