Liz Truss Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), has appointed Kemi Badenoch as the new Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade.
Ms Badenoch, who was born Olukemi Olufunto in Wimbledon, London to parents of Nigerian origin, is also the MP for Saffron Walden.
BASIC FACTS
- UK`s new Prime Minister has appointed Kemi Badenoch as the Secretary of state for International Trade.
- Kemi Badenoch is a British Nigerian who also competed for the leadership of the Tory party as the new Prime Minister.
- She was also the former British Equality Minister and has served the Conservative government is other capacities.
WHAT WE KNOW
Liz Truss in one of her early appointment as UK Prime Minister, on Wednesday announced the appointment of Kemi Badenoch as the Secretary of state for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade in the United Kingdom.
The 42-year-old’s appointment was announced on the verified Twitter page for the office of the UK Prime Minister based at 10 Downing Street.
Before her appointment as UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Badenoch served as British equalities minister during Johnson’s tenure.
NOTABLE QUOTE
“Kemi Badenoch MP @KemiBadenoch has been appointed Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade @TradeGovUK.#Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/DbU55lGD8q”
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 6, 2022” the tweet read.
CATCH-UP
Kemi Badenoch was a top contender to succeed Boris Johnson, finished amongst the last 5.
Before her appointment as UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Badenoch served as British equalities minister during Johnson’s tenure.
Kemi Badenoch previously held roles as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education.
Badenoch is also a former Vice-Chair of the Conservative Party and former member of the Justice Select Committee. Prior to her election as a Member of Parliament, she was a Conservative member of the London Assembly, acting as the GLA Conservative’s spokesperson for the economy.
Kemi Badenoch married to a Briton, was born in the UK by Nigerian parents. She spent part of her early life in Nigeria.
TAKEAWAY
One of the things that make developed economies developed, is their ability to integrate the best brains around them to their advantage without given much consideration to the circumstances of birth.
While Nigeria makes a big issue of diaspora voting, ethnicity, state of origin etc. The west has travelled past those primordial sentiments to a great extent to harnessing the best human resources where they find them.
Yes racism is still a big issue, but when it’s to their advantage, it counts for nothing. Here is another lesson for Nigeria.
