British-Nigerian appointed Minister by Boris Johnson

UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (née Adegoke), aged 39, as Children and Families Minister, as part of his government reshuffle.

Ms Kemi Badenoch is a British Conservative politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Saffron Walden. She was born in Wimbledon, London to Nigerian parents. Her childhood was spent in Lagos and the United States. She moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 16.

Badenoch, who has been the MP for Saffron Walden since 2017, joined the Conservative Party at the age of 25.

A software and IT engineer, Badenoch studied systems engineering at Sussex University and also has a law degree. She has worked in the banking sector for Coutts and RBS and is a mother of two. 

The minister for children and families role was downgraded in January 2018 from minister of state to junior minister level, and it will retain this status under Badenoch. The minister’s responsibilities include early years policy, including inspection and regulation.

Tweeting about her appointment, Mrs Badenoch @KemiBadenoch posted on 29 July:

“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 …(1/3)”

In her 2017 maiden speech as MP, the daughter of a medical doctor and a physiology professor, described the vote for Brexit as “the greatest ever vote of confidence in the project of the United Kingdom”.

Vivian Asamoah

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