Kingsford Community School pupil named 11th young mayor of Newham
Tomiwa Akintunde, 14, has been elected as Newham's 11th young mayor - Credit: Newham Council
A 14-year-old pupil from Kingsford Community School has triumphed in the race to become the 2018 young mayor of Newham.
Tomiwa Akintunde was named the borough’s 11th young mayor at the Old Town Hall in Stratford, securing 1,387 votes out of 14,012.
The “elated” pupil thanked all his supporters at the results on Wednesday, outlining his manifesto ambitions for the year ahead.
“I want to introduce different festivals throughout the year to promote culture and diversity and to portray young people’s talents,” he pledged.
“I also want to ensure cheaper tuition to make sure children can do well in their exams.”
You may also want to watch:
Tomiwa, together with a 20-strong youth council, will represent the views of young people across Newham and advise on policies that affect them.
He will be in post for a year along with Raya Haroub, 15, from Plashet School, East Ham, who was elected deputy young mayor.
Most Read
- 1 Police appeal for help after woman raped in Beckton
- 2 Letters: CCTV facial recognition, Covid and tenants' manifesto
- 3 Double murder accused remanded in custody over ‘brutal’ stabbings
- 4 West Ham 1 Burnley 0: How the Hammers rated
- 5 NHS Nightingale London's jabs hub opens as Covid-19 vaccinations ramp up
- 6 Tottenham take Super League spoils at West Ham
- 7 Newham's Covid-19 case rate 'huge' but there is 'light at end of the tunnel'
- 8 Forest Gate man, 21, charged with dangerous and drug driving
- 9 Dangerous driver arrested after police find drugs and £28k cash
- 10 Tribute to 7th Barts Health Trust worker to die of Covid-19
Some 21 candidates stood in this year’s contest, voted for by young people aged 11 to 18.
The overall turnout was 79 per cent, an increase of three pc from last year, while polling stations ran at 17 schools and colleges across the borough.
Deputy mayor Ken Clark said: “I was impressed by all the candidates and their campaigning.
“I am looking forward to seeing how Tomiwa will fulfil his duty to the young people of Newham.
“I also thank teachers for supporting the young mayor election process.”
Tomiwa replaces Khadija Sethi from Langdon Academy, East Ham, who was the 10th young mayor.
Newham Council is one of a handful of local authorities that runs a young mayor scheme, offering young people an opportunity to get involved in and affect issues through the introduction of policies.
To find out more about the scheme, visit newham.gov.uk/youngmayor.
