‘I’m Nigerian by Ancestry, Not Identity’ – UK Politician Kemi Badenoch Says She No Longer Identifies as Nigerian

Kemi Badenoch, the current leader of the UK Conservative Party and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, has sparked controversy after revealing that she no longer identifies as Nigerian, despite her heritage.

Speaking during a recent podcast interview, Badenoch disclosed that she hasn’t held a Nigerian passport in over 20 years, and no longer feels a strong connection to the country she once called home.

“I have not renewed my Nigerian passport, I think, not since the early 2000s,” she stated. “I don’t identify with it anymore. Most of my life has been in the UK and I’ve just never felt the need to.”

‘I’m Nigerian by Ancestry, Not Identity’

Although born in London, Kemi was raised in Lagos, Nigeria, before returning to the UK in her teens. Despite her roots, she emphasized that her sense of identity now lies firmly with the United Kingdom.

“I’m Nigerian through ancestry, by birth despite not being born there because of my parents, but by identity I’m not really,” she added.

“I know the country very well, I have a lot of family there… but home is where my now family is.”

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Visa Challenges and Emotional Disconnect

Badenoch shared that when her father, Femi Adegoke, passed away in 2022, she needed to apply for a visa to visit Nigeria — an experience she described as “a big fandango.”

Reflecting on her childhood in Lagos, she admitted to feeling out of place, even then.

“Although I held dual heritage, I never quite felt I belonged there,” she said. “My parents thought, ‘There is no future for you in this country’.”

Reactions and Criticism

Her remarks have reignited criticism from certain Nigerian quarters. In December 2024, Vice President Kashim Shettima commented that Badenoch could “remove the Kemi from her name” if she was ashamed of her Nigerian heritage.

In response, her spokesperson affirmed that “she stands by what she says” and added that Badenoch is “not the PR for Nigeria.”

The UK minister has previously been vocal about issues of corruption and governance in Nigeria, a stance that has often made her a controversial figure among Nigerian politicians.