Kemi Badenoch, a prominent figure, has been at the center of attention in Nigeria over the past few days. Her recent remarks, which have been perceived as disparaging towards her African heritage, have sparked widespread discussion and debate. But how accurate are these claims, and what do they reveal about the complexities of identity and belonging?
Techparley correspondent profiles the life and career of the UK politician, highlighting her background, achievements, and the controversies surrounding her recent statements.
Who is Kemi Badenoch?
Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch, aged 44, is a British politician and the current Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party, roles she assumed in November 2024.
She is the first Black individual to hold these offices, having previously served in the UK Cabinet under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak from 2022 to 2024
Since 2017, Badenoch has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Essex (formerly Saffron Walden).
Kemi’s ministerial roles include:
- Minister of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (2021-2022)
- Minister for Equalities (2020 2022)
She served as the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (2020–2021) and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education (2019–2020).
Where was Kemi born?
Kemi was born in Wimbledon, London, and soon after, her mother returned to Nigeria. She is one of three children born to her Nigerian Yoruba parents.
Kemi’s Childhood
Kemi spent her early years in Lagos, Nigeria, and the United States, where her mother lectured. She attended the International School of Lagos while living in Surulere, a middle-class neighbourhood.
Although describing her upbringing as middle-class, Badenoch has noted the challenges her family faced, including periods of poverty due to inflation. She once stated:
“Being middle class in Nigeria still means having no running water or electricity, sometimes taking your own chair to school.”
At 16, she returned to the UK due to the worsening political and economic climate in Nigeria, living with her mum’s friend.
During her maiden speech in Parliament, she described herself as “to all intents and purposes a first-generation immigrant.”
Education
Badenoch holds a Master of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Sussex, earned in 2003.
While working, she pursued a part-time Law degree at Birkbeck, University of London, graduating in 2009.
Career
Her professional journey began in IT as a software engineer at Logica (now CGI Group) from 2003 to 2006.
She later worked as a systems analyst at the Royal Bank of Scotland and held roles in consultancy and financial services, including as Associate Director at Coutts (2006–2013).
She also served as Digital Director for The Spectator (2015–2016).
Who is Kemi Badenoch’s Father?
Dr. Femi Adegoke was a general practitioner who later founded a publishing company in Nigeria and became an activist for Yoruba rights. He passed away in February 2022.
Who is Kemi’s Mother?
Her mother, Feyi Adegoke, was a professor of physiology, lecturing in the United States and at the University of Lagos.
Who is Kemi Badenoch’s husband?
Hamish Badenoch works for Deutsche Bank and was a Conservative councillor from 2014 to 2018 in Merton Borough Council. He contested Foyle for the Northern Ireland Conservatives in the 2015 general election.
After marrying Hamish, Badenoch adopted his surname. The couple has two daughters and a son.
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The Troll
Badenoch’s comments about Nigeria have sparked heated debates. Earlier this year, she contrasted her experiences of fear growing up in Lagos with the freedoms she found in the UK, describing her hometown as “a place where almost everything seemed broken.”
On Monday, Nigeria’s Vice-President Kashim Shettima responded, suggesting Badenoch should “remove the Kemi from her name” if she felt no pride in her heritage. He praised UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for maintaining a positive stance on his Indian ancestry, contrasting it with Badenoch’s remarks.
A spokesperson for Badenoch defended her comments, stating:
“She leads the opposition and takes great pride in her role in this country. She speaks the truth, presents things as they are, and will not soften her words.”
Kemi Badenoch sparked fresh identity controversy while speaking with British media, The Spectator, recently. She said,
“I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity (Yoruba).”
“I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, the Boko Haram where Islamism is.
“Being Yoruba is my true identity, and I refuse to be lumped with northern people of Nigeria, who ‘were our ethnic enemies,’ all in the name of being called a Nigerian.”
Adding that, “Somebody once told me when I was very young that my surname was a name for people who were warriors. They protected the crown, and that’s what I see myself as doing.
“I am here to protect, and I will die protecting this country because I know what’s out there,” she added.
Responding via X, Femi Fani Kayode said.
“She claims that she never regarded herself as being a Nigerian but rather a Yoruba and that she never identified with the people from the Northern part of our country who she collectively describes as being “Boko Haram Islamists” & “terrorists”.
This is dangerous rhetoric coming from an impudent & ignorant foreign leader who knows nothing about our country, who does not know her place & who insists on stirring up a storm that she cannot contain & that may eventually consume her.
It is rather like saying that she identifies more with the English than she does with the Scots & the Welsh whom she regards as nothing more than homicidal & murderous barbarians that once waged war against her ethnic English compatriots! ”
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Reno Omokri also responded to her via X stating,
“I am proud that a Nigerian, Kemi Badenoch, a Member of Parliament and leader of His Majesty’s Opposition, is the highest-ranking Black person in the United Kingdom. But Kemi still has a lot to learn in life.
Mrs. Badenoch should recall that when Anthony Joshua was arrested in 2011 on drug charges, the headline in ALL British papers was something like this, ‘Nigerian Boxer Arrested With Drugs’. I urge her office to please fact-check me.
But when the very same Anthony Joshua won a gold medal in men’s super heavyweight boxing at the 2012 London Olympics, the headline in British papers read ‘British Boxer Wins Boxing Gold’.
Within a year, Mr. Joshua transformed from a Nigerian to a Briton. What a miracle!
The British media are celebrating Kemi because it is currently chic to do so. There is, after all, some novelty in the fact that she is the first Black person to hold such an exalted position. But she would do well to remember that she is only British and not English. And when she makes a mistake, as we all do, the British media will remember that she is Nigerian in their headline.”
Where Kemi stands
In a most recent interview, Badenoch discussed trust in the UK police, contrasting it with her experiences in Nigeria. She recalled an incident where Nigerian police allegedly stole her brother’s watch and shoes.
Adding that, “The police in Nigeria will rob us… It’s a very poor country. Giving people a gun is just a license to intimidate.”
The remarks ignited backlash online. Social activist Aisha Yesufu criticised Badenoch, writing:
“Kemi Badenoch @KemiBadenoch should grow up and move on! Context is everything! She was asked if she trusts the British police. How is what happened with the Nigerian police a reason for her to determine if she trusts the British police or not?
“@PoliceNG, you see your life? Always disgracing us up and down!”
Commentary
- As the debate continues, Badenoch’s remarks have no doubt reignited discussions on Nigeria’s governance, international image, and how diaspora figures navigate their heritage.
- A lot of questions are begging for answers. Should a prominent figure like Kemi be caught dancing naked in the market square, where a free towel of diplomacy could have saved her face? Is the UK politician under some pressure to please her masters? Is her next ambition tied to throwing her fatherland under the bus? Or, could the passing of her father be a contributing factor to her apparent lack of restraint and accountability in her recent actions?
