A 29-year-old British-Nigerian trailblazer is leading a new chapter in British politics. Princess Opeyemi Bright has become the youngest person to be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
Bright became the borough’s Civic Mayor and First Citizen for the 2025–2026 term on May 16, 2025. For women and young people alike, as well as the Nigerian community in the UK and beyond, the event was a significant victory.
When Princess Bright, a chartered accountant by trade, was elected as Barking and Dagenham’s youngest Labour councillor in 2018, at the age of 22, she made her political debut. Since then, she has held important roles, such as Chair of the Audit and Standards Committee, where she promoted good governance and financial accountability.
She is prepared to proudly represent her town and motivate the next generation in her new role as mayor. Her momentous nomination serves as a potent reminder that diversity is important in politics and that leadership lacks age restrictions.
In her own words, Bright stated that she is “deeply honored” to assume the post and intends to utilize it to unite people and elevate voices that are sometimes ignored.
Princess Opeyemi Bright isn’t just making headlines as the youngest mayor in her borough’s history; she’s creating history. And if this is only the beginning, the future of leadership in the UK appears to be more promising than ever.
