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