A Nigerian-born woman named Abigail Marshal Katung has been appointed as the 130th Lord Mayor of Leeds being the first African to occupy the position

Katung shared this news via her personal X page on Friday.

She was officially announced as the next Lord Mayor of Leeds following the council’s annual general meeting.

Sharing the news, Katung wrote, “As the 130th Lord Mayor of Leeds, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude. This milestone is a collective celebration of the spirit and support of the wonderful people of Leeds, as well as my cherished friends and family. I look forward to serving 🙏❤️”

The new mayor was born in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, and arrived in the UK to study at the University of Leeds as a postgraduate student in the Politics & International Studies Department in 2000.

Katung became the first African to become a ward member of Leeds City Council when in 2019 and was elected to represent the Little London and Woodhouse ward in the city centre

According to a news published on the Leeds website, the new mayor during her appointment ceremony said, “My appointment as Lord Mayor has been widely celebrated in the city’s African community and is a shining example of the enormous contribution international students make to UK society. As Lord Mayor of Leeds, I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure voices are heard from all areas of the city and every triumph is recognised and celebrated.”