Featured picks of the week
British-Nigerian Princess Bright becomes UK’s youngest mayor
In a landmark moment, Princess Opeyemi Bright, a 29-year-old British-Nigerian, was inaugurated as the youngest mayor in the United Kingdom on May 16. Sworn in as the First Citizen of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Bright’s historic appointment marks a significant milestone for youth representation, and the growing influence of Nigerians in British politics.
Born in the UK to Nigerian parents, Dr. Afolasade Bright and Pastor Gbolahan Bright MBE, Princess Opeyemi Bright began her political journey at the age of 22, when she was elected as a councillor for Barking and Dagenham in 2018, becoming the youngest to hold that position in the borough’s history.
A chartered accountant and former senior strategy and operations manager in the tech sector, Bright has spent the last seven years championing youth empowerment, social inclusion, and economic opportunities.
Ebi Bright makes history in Ghana as Tema’s first female mayor
Ebi Bright has been sworn in as the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to serve as mayor of Tema, Ghana’s industrial hub, on May 9. She was nominated by President John Dramani Mahama, and confirmed with an overwhelming endorsement, securing 28 votes in favour and 3 against from assembly members.
Her appointment has been celebrated as a breakthrough for gender representation in Ghanaian politics, while also sparking discussions about local leadership and inclusivity. Ebi Bright, a prominent figure in Ghana’s entertainment industry, first gained national recognition as an actress and media personality before transitioning to politics.
Burkina Faso names major street after Prez. JJ Rawlings of Ghana
The government of Burkina Faso paid a historic tribute to Jerry John Rawlings, the late former President of Ghana, by naming a major street in its capital, Ouagadougou, after him. The newly named “Avenue Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings” was inaugurated in a ceremony that coincided with the unveiling of the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum, accenting the deep historical and ideological ties between the two West African nations and their iconic leaders.
The gesture, on May 18, marks the second time Burkina Faso has honoured a Ghanaian leader with a street name, following the earlier naming of a road after Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The avenue, located in Ouagadougou’s Arrondissement 5, stretches over two kilometres with dual carriageways separated by a central median.
QYO Foundation honours HRM King Lawal-Bello as its ‘Life Patron’
Nigerian-based nonprofit, Queen Yetunde Olofintade (QYO) Foundation faces a new milestone after an endorsement from His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ibrahim Olasunkanmi Lawal-Bello (CoP), King of Isheri Olofin Kingdom, Alimosho, Lagos State, Nigeria, and his palace chiefs on Wednesday, May 7.
The nonprofit honoured the king with the role of its foundation’s “Royal Father and Life Patron,” during its official visit to the palace; a first of its kind for the monarch since his coronation ceremony in April. His Majesty accepted the role, endorsing and expressing his admiration for the foundation’s mission and vision.
PAMEPI and ComputerLab Ghana launch €1.5m project in Ghana
PAMEPI Women in Tech Ghana, in collaboration with ComputerLab Ghana and the Kangme Yiri Foundation, launched the “ComputerLabs Ghana Demo Pilot Project” at the Business Senior High School (BISCO) in Tamale, Ghana, in a landmark step toward digital equity.
Valued at over €1.5 million, this ambitious initiative aims to install more than 2,100 computers across schools in Ghana’s Northern, Savannah, and Upper West Regions, impacting over 31,000 students and bridging the digital divide in underserved communities.
Asantehene honours Amma Prempeh’s promo of Ghanaian heritage
The King of Asante Kingdom (Asantehene) in Ghana, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II honoured his granddaughter, BBC journalist and filmmaker, Amma Prempeh for promoting Ghanaian heritage in the diaspora, during his 75th birthday celebration at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Ghana.
The grand occasion, drawing a distinguished crowd of royals, dignitaries, and enthusiastic supporters, was jointly celebrated with the sacred Awukudae festival, in a picturesque display of Asante Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage.
WATCH: World War II Hero Joseph Ashitey Hammond (Ex-WO1) of Ghana on #TheAfricanDream show with Oral Ofori
Ex WO1 Joseph Ashitey Hammond is from Teshie LENSHI Ashitey WE, a royal family of Accra in Ghana, but he was raised in Osu to Royal parents. The admirable gentleman joined Osu Presbyterian school as a footballer at a tenderage, and then joined the Gold Coast Regiment immediately after middle school in 1943, during which he witnessed the effects of happenings in India and Burma during World War II. At age 16 he survived the incident of the 28th February Crossroad Shootings that led to the 1948 riots in the then Gold Coast, which sparked agitations that years later on led to the birth of the West African nation of Ghana.