Meet Rosaline Ogunro, Nigerian-born woman who became mayor of Islington

Rosaline Ogunro, a Nigerian-born councillor, has become the mayor of Islington in London, adding another prominent name to the growing number of Nigerians making their mark in British public life.
Ogunro, who represents St Peter’s and Canalside Ward, was officially sworn in as Mayor of Islington for 2026/27 on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
Her emergence came a year after Nigerian-born Jason Jackson became the first Nigerian-born mayor of Islington, a milestone that brought attention to the increasing presence of people of Nigerian descent in British civic leadership.
From Nigeria to Britain
Ogunro was born in Issele-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria, as the first of seven children. She moved t...