The Nigerian-born UK Minister KEMI BADENOCH lands in Nigeria for a three day official visit

Sunday, February 11, 2024 - The UK Minister for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch has arrived in Nigeria for a three-day visit.

The purpose of the visit is to deepen the UK-Nigeria partnership.

According to the Nations, a statement released by Senior Press & Public Affairs Officer and Comms Lead, Prosperity and Economic Development, Ndidiamaka Eze, disclosed that Badenoch’s visit will take forward ongoing efforts by both countries to boost the UK-Nigeria trade relationship and unlock new investment opportunities.

In July 2022, Badenoch resigned from the government and stood unsuccessfully to replace Boris Johnson in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.

After Liz Truss became Prime Minister in September 2022, Badenoch was appointed as Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade and was sworn in to the Privy Council.

The 44-year-old British-Nigerian was reappointed to the Cabinet by Truss's successor, Rishi Sunak, the following month.

In a February 2023 cabinet reshuffle, Badenoch was appointed Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade

The statement reads, “Minister Kemi Badenoch and the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Helen Grant will have meetings with the Federal Government of Nigeria, State Governors as well as British and Nigerian business leaders and investors. 

“Through these meetings, she will explore current and potential investment and trade activities from education to infrastructure and energy projects, with a potential to create thousands of jobs.

“Minister Badenoch will look to further strengthen the UK-Nigeria partnership, remove barriers to trade and investment, grow business between the two countries, and ensure the City of London’s enabling role for international business is more accessible to Nigeria.”

Speaking on her visit to Nigeria, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery said: “Nigeria is one of the UK’s most important partners in Africa. We are committed to helping Nigeria unlock new investments opportunities, supporting more UK and international investment through the City of London, and thereby creating jobs in both our countries.

“Recent big and bold reforms by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Central Bank are boosting optimism amongst international investors that the country is on the right path and are creating the conditions for growth.”

In July 2022, Badenoch lambasted Nigerian politicians, saying they use public funds as their private piggy banks and pollute the political system with failure to serve the people.

Badenoch, who was among the eight nominees in the race to succeed Boris Johnson as the British Prime Minister made the statement during a campaign speech.

The Nigerian-born politician who served as Minister of State for Local Government, Faith and Communities and Minister of State for Equalities between 2021 and 2022 in the UK said she grew up in Nigeria and witnessed first-hand how Nigerian politicians misused and mismanaged public funds, promised heaven on earth only to pollute not only the air but the political system without rendering due service to the people.