A teenage role model who has made a “magnificent” contribution to his school is in a competition that hails the achievements of Londoners.

Elsadiq Ahmed-Salim, who was made head boy at Golders Rise, Hendon, a year early has been nominated for the John Lewis Young People of the Year award.

The 16-year-old launched a football league at school, performs in and organises school gigs, is an ambassador for the City Safe campaign and has taken part in the National Citizen Service.

Fellow students are so proud of Elsadiq they have begun to refer to him as an “everyday hero” around the school.

He said: “In the end we only get so many opportunities in a lifetime. I feel it would be wrong of me not to make the most of the opportunities I get and I want to make a difference.”

His family moved to Britain from the Sudan the year he was born, and he is studying A-Levels in maths, physics, chemistry and further mathematics.

Last year he launched the Hendon School Football Association for younger students, to ensure nobody misses out on the chance to play.

And he is also head of events at his school and organises Hendonbury Music Festival so talented pupils can entertain their peers.

He has also taken part in the National Citizen Service, a team-building exercise, and helps make the streets safer in his role as CitySafe ambassador.

He added: “I was asked to help out, and got more and more involved. No one wants to go home scared and the aim is to stop abuse, knife crime and violence by making the city more secure and creating safe havens for people who feel threatened.

“If people are in genuine danger they will provided with a place of safety and the police will be called.”

He was nominated by his assistant head teacher Noelle Doona, who was so impressed by his application and interview for head boy he was given the role - despite being too young.

If successful, he could win £2,000 in prize money to share with good causes.

She said: “Elsadiq is a genuinely kind, caring young man. He is always smiling, polite and has a very dry sense of humour. He is ambitious not just for himself but other students and the community.”

To nominate a ten to 25-year-old for a YOPEY award, visit www.yopey.org