Badenoch, born in Wimbledon, London, in 1980, spent much of her early life in Nigeria and the United States before returning to the UK at the age of 16. Despite her Nigerian upbringing, the Tory politician has repeatedly distanced herself from the country, often speaking critically about her experiences there.
In a recently circulated viral video, Badenoch said her time at the Federal Government Girls’ College was akin to being incarcerated. Recounting her time at the boarding school, she said:
“I went to a secondary school — it was called a Federal Government Girls’ School in a place called Sagamu. And that was like being in prison. When I tell the stories about using a machete and having to fetch buckets of water…”
She described conditions where students were responsible for cutting grass using machetes and fetching water with buckets, citing a lack of basic infrastructure.
“That was the first time I was away from home, away from my family. It’s a federal boarding school… It was a dormitory with about 150 girls, 20 to 30 in a room, six rooms. The machete was for cutting the grass — well, because who else is going to cut the grass?” she added.
This is not the first time Badenoch has sparked outrage with comments perceived as denigrating Nigeria and its institutions.
“I Don’t Identify as Nigerian”
On 1 August 2025, during an appearance on the Rosebud podcast with Gyles Brandeth, Badenoch revealed she had not renewed her Nigerian passport in over two decades and no longer identifies as Nigerian.
“I’m Nigerian through ancestry… but by identity I’m not really,” she said. “I know the country very well, I have a lot of family there, and I’m very interested in what happens there.”
Growing Up in Fear
During the 2024 Conservative Party leadership race, Badenoch shared another grim portrait of her childhood in Lagos, describing Nigeria as a place “where fear is everywhere.”
“You cannot understand it unless you’ve
lived it. Triple-checking that all the doors and windows are locked, waking up at every sound… wondering if your home would be next,” she said.
Gender and Citizenship: “My Children Can’t Be Nigerians”
Speaking to Fareed Zakaria on CNN, Badenoch criticised Nigerian citizenship laws, stating that her children cannot inherit Nigerian citizenship because she is a woman. She described this as an example of inequality in cultures around the world.
“Not all cultures are equal… Cultures where women are treated as second-class citizens — those are not equal cultures,” she said.
“It’s virtually impossible to get Nigerian citizenship. I had it by virtue of my parents, but I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman,” she claimed.
Britain May End Up Like Nigeria
In her first major speech of 2025, Badenoch compared the UK’s current challenges to the failures of governments in countries like Nigeria, warning that Britain might “lose what it has” without serious reform.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life… I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments,” she said.
Nigerian Police “Stole My Brother’s Watch and Shoes”
On 14 December 2024, in an interview with The Free Press, Badenoch shared a disturbing memory of her brother’s encounter with the Nigerian police.
“The police in Nigeria would rob us… I remember them stealing my brother’s shoes and his watch. It’s a very poor country, so people do all sorts of things,” she recounted.
A Different Tune in 2010
Despite her current disdain, Badenoch previously aligned herself closely with Nigeria during her 2010 campaign to represent Dulwich and West Norwood in the UK Parliament. At the time, she openly solicited support from Nigerians and projected herself as a proud Nigerian candidate.
In a campaign message, she wrote:
“I’m running for Parliament… and Nigerians have been fantastic… Like you, I’m sick and tired of reading that Nigerians are fraudsters, terrorists… I’m asking for your help now to support a Nigerian who will improve our national image.”
Observers have described Badenoch’s rhetoric as hypocritical and opportunistic, pointing to a pattern of alienating her Nigerian heritage for political mileage while embracing it when convenient.
