President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the appointment of Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch, a United Kingdom-born Nigerian as Minister of Children and Families by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Describing her appointment as “well-deserved,” the President urged the 39-year-old to regard her new position as an opportunity to justify the confidence reposed in her by making lasting impact.
Buhari, who said he had no doubt that Badenoch would succeed given her academic qualifications and parliamentary experience, also enjoined the junior minister to see herself as an ambassador of her fatherland in conduct and performance.
The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, acknowledged Badenoch’s appointment as a plus for Nigerians in Diaspora.
He said, “It further confirms my belief that with hard work and integrity, Nigerians can excel in their chosen professions and fields of endeavour anywhere in the world.”
The President, while also applauding Prime Minister Johnson for finding Badenoch suitable, wished her success in the new challenging role.
Badenoch is a British Conservative politician and Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden. She was born in Wimbledon, London to parents of Nigerian origin. Her childhood was spent in Lagos, Nigeria and the United States. She moved to the United Kingdom when she was 16 years old.
