Nigerian-born councillor Christopher Adegoke has made history in the United Kingdom after becoming the first Black and minority ethnic person to chair the Nottinghamshire County Council since its establishment in 1889.
Adegoke was elected chairman of the council on May 14, 2026, in what has been described as a significant milestone for Nigerians in the diaspora and minority representation in British public service.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, congratulated Adegoke, saying his achievement demonstrated the contributions and leadership of Nigerians living outside the country.
Dabiri-Erewa also highlighted his experience in education, public administration and community leadership, as well as his involvement in grassroots development and public service.
Born in Kaduna, Adegoke spent his early years in different parts of Nigeria. He attended St Michael’s Primary School before moving to Lagos, where he continued his education at St John’s Aroloya.
He later relocated to Ilorin, Kwara State, and attended St Barnabas Primary School, Sabo Oke, followed by ECWA Secondary School, Igbaja, and Government Secondary School, Ilorin.
Adegoke proceeded to Kwara State Polytechnic and later the University of Ilorin, where he obtained degrees in History and Public Administration. He said growing up in different Nigerian communities helped shape his understanding of people and strengthened his desire to serve the public.
“I come from a family with a strong tradition of leadership and community service,” Adegoke told PUNCH, noting that his father, the late Olu Koro of Koro, Oba Elijah Adegoke Oyun, placed a strong emphasis on education and service.
He said the values of discipline, responsibility and respect for service instilled by his father continued to influence his leadership, adding that members of his extended family had also served as traditional, religious, educational and local government leaders.
Adegoke, who currently represents residents as a county councillor, said his background made his transition into community leadership in Britain relatively natural. He also recalled that an uncle and cousin had served as local councillors in the Koro-Ekiti area of Nigeria.
Following his election, he pledged to work with residents, charities, businesses and other organisations across Nottinghamshire, with a commitment to ensuring that people from different backgrounds were represented.
“I intend to continue serving the people and ensuring that no one is left behind. We stand for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances,” he said.
Adegoke added that he would use his new position to represent Nottinghamshire at local, national and international levels while promoting inclusion, community participation and opportunities for residents.
