“We Won’t Force Kemi Badenoch to Embrace Her Nigerian Heritage” – NiDCOM Boss

“We Won’t Force Kemi Badenoch to Embrace Her Nigerian Heritage” – NiDCOM Boss

By Matthew Eloyi

The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has clarified that Nigeria will not pressure Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, to identify with her Nigerian roots.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Dabiri-Erewa revealed that NiDCOM has attempted to reach out to Badenoch several times without receiving a response.

“It depends on if she identifies the Nigerianess in her. We have reached out to her once or twice without any response, so we don’t force people to accept to be Nigerian,” she explained.

Dabiri-Erewa emphasised that NiDCOM is open to working with any Nigerian in the diaspora who wishes to connect with their heritage. She cited a previous case involving Miss Universe Nigeria in South Africa, who only sought NiDCOM’s support after encountering difficulties abroad.

“As long as that blood is in you, you are a Nigerian,” she said, adding that the decision ultimately rests with Badenoch.

Kemi Badenoch, 44, was elected Conservative Party leader on Saturday, following Rishi Sunak’s resignation after the party’s setback in the July general elections.

Badenoch, now the first black leader of a UK-wide political party, called her new role “an enormous honour,” acknowledging the party’s past mistakes and pledging to “renew” its efforts.

Though born in London, Badenoch spent much of her childhood in Lagos, Nigeria, and the United States, later moving to the UK at age 16 due to Nigeria’s political and economic turmoil.