Written by Mamobo Ogoro
Cllr Yemi Adenuga is a history-maker, changemaker, and community leader. In 2019, she became the first Black woman ever elected to public office in Ireland, serving as a Fine Gael councillor on Meath County Council for the Navan Municipal District. She is also the first migrant councillor in Meath, breaking barriers and setting precedents for inclusion in Irish politics.
Originally from Nigeria, Adenuga built a distinguished career in broadcasting and public speaking before moving to Ireland in 2000. She later earned a degree in Business Studies, an MBA, and a postgraduate certificate in innovation and entrepreneurship from UCD. She is widely recognised as an advocate for equality, youth empowerment, and women’s leadership. She is the founder of Sheroes Global, a social enterprise that equips women and young people with leadership, mentorship, and confidence-building tools. Through initiatives like the Sheroes Girls Club and Boys-to-Men, she has mentored over 22,000 individuals worldwide, fostering resilience and future-focused leadership.
In her role as a councillor, Yemi has been at the forefront of anti-racism efforts. In 2020, she successfully proposed that Meath County Council become the first local authority in Ireland to fund anti-racism education, and she has consistently campaigned for hate crime legislation and stronger equality frameworks. Yemi is also a co-leader within the Black Irish Sisters Network, a platform amplifying the voices and contributions of Black women in Ireland.
But if that wasn’t enough, in June this year, she helped host the groundbreaking Audacity Conference, which brought together over 250 Black women and allies at TU Dublin, the first event of its kind in Ireland, and was celebrated as a milestone in representation, empowerment, and solidarity. Alongside her public service, Yemi and her family became well known to Irish audiences as the first migrant family featured on Gogglebox Ireland, offering a warm, authentic representation of diverse Irish life. Today, Cllr Yemi Adenuga is recognised as a powerful advocate for inclusive leadership, gender equality, and intercultural dialogue. She continues to inspire through her work in politics, education, and community development, proving that representation not only matters, it transforms lives.
