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Nigerian-born politician makes history in UK Conservative Party leadership race

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A former Nigerian resident becomes the new face of Britainʼs Conservative Party. Her unique background and journey from Lagos to London shapes a remarkable political breakthrough

Kemi Badenoch breaks new ground in British politics becoming the first black woman to head a major UK party; sheʼs also the second-ever female Opposition Leader since Mrs Thatcher

Her life story starts in south london (where she was born to Nigerian parents in jan-1980) before moving back to Lagos. Thanks to pre-Thatcher citizenship rules she got what she calls her golden ticket: British nationality

Growing up in what she describes as nigeriaʼs middle-class meant dealing with basic life challenges. Hereʼs what her daily routine included:

  • Getting up at 5am to cut grass with machetes
  • Carrying water in rusty buckets from far-away wells
  • Doing homework by candlelight due to power cuts
  • Taking own chairs to school

Living without electricity and doing my homework by candlelight‚ because the state electricity board could not provide power

Kemi Badenoch in her first MP speech

By mid-90s Badenoch returned to Britain living with family-friends in wimbledon; she worked at mcdonalds while studying A-levels. Her path led through Sussex University where she studied computer systems engineering - its here where her conservative views started taking shape

The future party leader met her husband-to-be Hamish at a south-london Conservative meeting (they got married in 2012 and now have three kids). Her pre-politics career included jobs at Coutts Bank and The Spectator before winning seats in london Assembly and becoming Saffron Waldenʼs MP

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