Amanze ChinonyeBritish Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has drawn widespread attention and criticism after publicly declaring that she no longer identifies as Nigerian, despite being born in the UK to Nigerian parents and spending part of her childhood in Lagos.
Speaking on the Rosebud podcast released in early August 2025, Badenoch said: “I’m Nigerian through ancestry, by birth, but by identity, I’m not really.” She revealed that she hasn’t renewed her Nigerian passport in over two decades and considers the United Kingdom where she lives with her husband and children as her true home.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe remarks have sparked significant reactions across Nigeria, with many questioning her stance and others defending her right to self-identify.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), which works to maintain connections with Nigerians abroad, disclosed that it had previously attempted to engage with Badenoch following her political rise in the UK.
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According to NiDCOM chair Abike Dabiri-Erewa, “We reached out to her once or twice, but there was no response.” She clarified that the outreach was made in good faith and was not intended to impose a national identity on her. “It depends on if she identifies the Nigerianess in her. We don’t force people to accept being Nigerian,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.
Badenoch has in the past emphasized her Yoruba ethnicity while expressing disconnection from Nigeria as a national identity. In earlier interviews, she cited the country’s political instability and cultural fragmentation as reasons she chose to align more closely with British values and society.
While her comments continue to provoke debate, they also shed light on larger conversations about diaspora identity, national allegiance, and the complexities of cultural belonging in an increasingly globalized world.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
