Labour MP Safiya Said was sworn in as the city’s 128th Lord Mayor after a council meeting on Monday, becoming the first black, hijab-wearing and Somali woman to hold the position.
“I am honoured to be the first black, hijab-wearing woman to hold this position. I came to Sheffield in 1985 and this city has truly become my home, a place I have always felt a part of,” Safiya said in a speech after her appointment.
Safiya also said in her speech that she wanted “every voice, no matter how quiet, to feel heard in the heart of this city”.
“I hope to transform Sheffield into a thriving hub where investors, businesses, philanthropists and residents can collaborate and support each other, looking to gather Sheffield’s stories, amplify its voice, and proudly represent the spirit of our city”, she reiterated in her speech.
Safiya is a single mother of five, and was first elected as an MP for Burngreave in 2021, where she founded Reach Up Youth, a community project supporting young people, particularly those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
