Waltham Forest Council has appointed its new Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayors, who will serve for the upcoming municipal year.
Nuria Aliaskarova has been appointed Youth Mayor, with Fatimathul Sahin and Afolabi Okusaga serving as Deputy Youth Mayors. The appointments were announced by Mayor Marcelo Hart-Camus during the council meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
As Youth Mayor, Nuria Aliaskarova will play a vital role in representing the voices of young people across Waltham Forest, and acting as an ambassador for youth engagement within our borough.
The Deputy Youth Mayors, Fatimathul Sahin and Afolabi Okusaga, will support the youth mayor and help ensure that the views, experiences, and aspirations of young people continue to be heard.
This means the youth leadership team will be instrumental in ensuring young people's perspectives influence council decisions.
Nuria Aliaskarova, aged 24, will lead the youth representation, supported by 14-year-old Fatimathul Sahin and 17-year-old Afolabi Okusaga. The selection process involved a collective workshop interview process, where all candidates got to meet each other and work together.
Looking ahead, the new Youth Mayor and her deputies have outlined their key priorities. Nuria Aliaskarova expressed her eagerness to be part of local democracy, making it work, making it accessible, and hopefully making it useful to young people.
Fatimathul Sahin aims to ensure that every young person feels confident and comfortable with accessing social spaces that are designed for them.
Afolabi Okusaga plans to champion the skills and voices of local youths and, of course, support the youth mayor. I'm here to obviously drive actionable projects on issues like mental health, safety, and finally, the environment.
The meeting also included announcements and appointments, public statements on issues such as accessibility and tree planting, and members' questions on a range of topics including parking, pavement maintenance, and fly-tipping. Further details of the council meeting can be found in the Public reports pack.
