Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has expressed disappointment over the lack of response from Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the UK Conservative Party, after her office reached out to her.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Dabiri-Erewa explained that despite efforts to contact Badenoch, her office did not receive any acknowledgment from the prominent British-Nigerian politician.
However, she made it clear that NiDCOM would not pressure Badenoch into embracing her Nigerian heritage if she chose not to.
“We reached out to her once or twice, but there was no response. At the end of the day, it’s up to her whether she embraces her Nigerian roots,” Dabiri-Erewa said. “We don’t compel anyone to acknowledge their Nigerian identity. It’s a personal choice.”
The NiDCOM chair emphasized that her commission remains committed to engaging with Nigerians in the diaspora who actively identify with their heritage and culture.
She highlighted the case of a former Miss Universe Nigeria who, after experiencing challenges abroad, chose to reconnect with Nigeria, ultimately visiting the country and being warmly received.
“If the Nigerian blood is in you, you’re always a Nigerian,” Dabiri-Erewa added.
Badenoch, born in London in 1980, spent part of her childhood in Lagos before moving to the United States, where her mother worked as a lecturer.
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated that NiDCOM is open to collaborating with anyone who chooses to identify with Nigeria, but emphasized that this is not something the commission could or would impose on anyone.
“We are ready to work with anyone who sees themselves as Nigerian, but we can’t force anyone to embrace that identity,” she said.
