Nigerians have taken to social media to react to the appointment of 39-year-old Kemi Olufunto Badenoch as a Junior Cabinet Minister in the UK’s Department of Education by new British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
She announced her appointment as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families in a series of tweets on Monday.
Badenoch wrote: “I’m humbled to have been appointed a junior minister at the DfE. A huge privilege to be able to serve and make a positive difference on a number of issues close to my heart. I look forward to working with the ministerial team and everyone at @educationgovuk.
“Thank you for all good wishes and kind messages of support received. I also look forward to working not just with Conservatives colleagues but cross-party and grateful for the warm welcome from Tracy Brabin and Steve Reed MP who no doubt will be keeping me on my toes!
“And finally apologies to anyone who I have not responded to directly. If I don’t follow you, then I won’t have seen anything you posted on twitter. Please send an email instead!”.
Born on January 1980 in Wimbledon, London to parents of Nigerian origin, Badenoch is a Member of Parliament representing Saffron Walden constituency in the UK.
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Elected on June 8, 2017, the Conservative politician is the first woman to represent the constituency.
Although born in the UK, she grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and the United before relocating back to the UK aged 16.
She is a software and IT engineer. She studied systems engineering at Sussex University and also has a law degree. She has worked in the banking sector for Coutts and RBS.
She replaced Nadhim Zahawi as the UK’s Children’s Minister.
Nigerians hailed her appointment:
One of our own , a Nigerian 🇳🇬 was named a Minister recently in UK 🇬🇧 called @KemiBadenoch … sitting at the front in blue 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/uoqMd6h7NA
— . (@Shuaibabba) July 30, 2019
Another N9a, promoting our brilliance identity, sparkling in the Uk as newly appointed Junior Minister @KemiBadenoch to serve under the new UK prime minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson @BorisJohnson
Thanks Mr Pm#proudlyN9ablood pic.twitter.com/fRX49r0sFD
— youth&Tech (@youthTech3) July 30, 2019
Congratulations Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch on your appointment as Children and Families Minister by British prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
Nigerians are proud of you!
@KemiBadenoch #Nigeria #KemiBadenoch pic.twitter.com/J8st6YPngU
— Mystory Ng (@mystory_ng) July 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/Oladayo73131433/status/1156221184888979463
@KemiBadenoch, I am proud to be a Nigerian, you do us proud.#thenationnewspaper
— Gabriel Kehinde Fasuyi (GKF) (@KFasuyiGKF) July 30, 2019
I congratulate @KemiBadenoch on her appointment as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families. I have repeatedly said that Nigerians, especially her youth, are natural leaders, with advanced intellect and abilities.
~ @atiku pic.twitter.com/kIMWtWympG
— Grace Okagbare 🇳🇬🇳🇴 (@Okagbare01) July 30, 2019