Opeyemi Bright, a UK citizen of Nigerian descent, has been appointed the mayor of Barking and Dagenham Borough.
Bright, aged 29, made history as the youngest person to hold the position.
She was confirmed as the borough’s next mayor in April and inaugurated during a ceremony on Friday.
She had previously served as councillor of the borough in 2018 — also the youngest to have served in that capacity then aged 22.
She also served as a school governor, a board member of Agile Africa, an non-governmental organisation that equips young people with tech skills.
Bright joins the likes of Kemi Badenoch, Kate Osamor, Chi Onwurah, Bayo Alaba, Taiwo Owatemi, and Florence Ehalomi as UK political leaders with Nigerian descent.
She was born to Nigerian parents, Afolasade and Gbolahan Bright.
Her mother, Afoloshade, served as civic mayor of Hackney in 2006. She is currently a cabinet member for employment, skills and aspiration in Barking and Dagenham, while her father is senior minister in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
