St Peter’s and Canalside councillor Cllr Rosaline Ogunro was officially sworn-in last night (Wednesday, 27 May) as the Mayor of Islington for 2026/27.
A councillor since May 2022, Cllr Ogunro has previously sat on a range of council committees – including Homes and Communities Scrutiny, Children and Young People Scrutiny, and the Planning and Licensing Committees.
Each Mayor chooses charities to champion and raise funds for during their time in office. This year, Cllr Ogunro has selected St Luke’s Community Centre and Islington Boat Club.
St Luke’s Community Centre is a charity offering a wide-range of activities for members of the community, including lunches, classes, and activities – like heartwarming intergenerational interactions between primary school children and elderly people.
Islington Boat Club is a charity that provides water sports activities and training, with an emphasis on young people, people with additional needs, and older people who need additional support. Their courses are accessible and aimed at helping people build life skills.
Speaking after yesterday’s Mayor-making ceremony, Cllr Ogunro said: “There is nothing I enjoy more than helping and serving members of our community, and I can’t wait to continue doing that as Mayor of Islington.
“During my Mayorship, I’ll be raising funds for St Luke’s Community Centre – an incredible charity, that supports people of all ages in the local community.
“As a mother-of-two, I’m also very well aware of the value that sports clubs offer to the local community and, with that in mind, I’m looking forward to supporting Islington Boat Club this year too.
“Becoming Mayor is the honour of a lifetime, and I’m looking forward to bringing my compassion and hard-working nature to the role.”
Wednesday’s Annual Council meeting, the first council meeting since this month’s local elections, also saw formal confirmation of the new Executive, led by Council Leader Cllr Una O’Halloran.
A passionate singer, Cllr Ogunro has two music albums to her name and was also a member of the London Symphony Orchestra Community Choir from 2003 to 2022. As well as singing, her hobbies include designing and making clothes.
Cllr Ogunro takes over from Cllr Jason Jackson, who has served as Mayor over the past year. Cllr Jackson’s chosen charity was Islington Giving – a coalition of local people and organisations raising funds for incredible community projects, including around mental health and employment opportunities for young people.
The Mayor’s consort for the year is Cllr Ogunro’s son, Zulu Ogunro. Meanwhile, Cllr Chowdhury was appointed as Deputy Mayor, with his wife, Nilu Chowdhury, as consort.
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