Princess Opeyemi Bright a 29-year-old lady of Nigerian descent has been elected Mayor of Barking and Dagenham in the London Borough.
It is the first time a younger person would be elected to the position in the United Kingdom. She was inaugurated on May 16, 2025.
“This is nothing short of God’s grace,” she said during her inauguration.
“I’m proud to serve my borough, and as a proud Nigerian, I will represent my heritage with humility and excellence. May this journey inspire others to lead, serve, and rise.”
Bright’s political journey began early. Elected as a Councillor at just 22, she has spent the last seven years championing youth empowerment, social inclusion, and economic opportunities within her borough. Her dedication to service is rooted in her upbringing.
She is the daughter of Dr. Councillor Afolasade Bright, who served as Civic Mayor of Hackney from 2006 to 2007, and Pastor Gbolahan Bright MBE, a senior minister in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
Her election is emblematic of a larger trend—the growing political footprint of Nigerians in the diaspora. From Kemi Badenoch,a Conservative MP and the the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, to Labour MP Chi Onwurah, and from Canadian Minister Uzoma Asagwara to US Representative Esther Agbaje in Minnesota, Nigerians are asserting their voices in governance around the world.