Abike Dabiri, Chairman of NiDCOM, reveals the commission’s attempt to connect with Kemi Badenoch, only to receive no response. Explore the details of the communication and the reasons behind the silence.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, disclosed that her office contacted Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, but did not receive a reply.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Dabiri-Erewa expressed that Nigeria would not force the British politician to acknowledge her Nigerian heritage if she prefers not to.
“It depends on whether she chooses to embrace her Nigerian identity. We tried contacting her a couple of times, but didn’t receive any response. We don’t compel anyone to recognize being Nigerian,” she clarified.
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The ex-lawmaker mentioned that NiDCOM has consistently been willing to engage with Nigerians living abroad who appreciate their cultural roots. As an example, he referred to a former Miss Universe Nigeria who embraced her Nigerian identity after encountering difficulties in South Africa.
“She embraced her Nigerian heritage, traveled to Nigeria, and we welcomed her with open arms. ‘If you have Nigerian roots, you’re always a part of us,’ she noted.”
Badenoch, who was born in London in 1980, spent some of her childhood years in Lagos and the United States while her mother worked as a lecturer.
The NiDCOM chief also mentioned that the decision to embrace her Nigerian heritage is entirely up to Badenoch, who needs to determine how much she values it.
“We’re willing to collaborate with anyone who identifies as Nigerian, but we can’t impose it,” she concluded.
