Kemi Badenoch’s election as the leader of the Conservative Party, marking her as the first black woman to lead a major political party in the UK, sent ripples through social media from London to Lagos.
One of the many messages of congratulations came from across the parliamentary aisle, from Florence Eshalomi, a Labour MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green. Eshalomi, herself a British Nigerian, tweeted: “From one British Nigerian MP to another British Nigerian MP, congratulations @KemiBadenoch on your election as leader of the Conservative Party. Eku ori ire. Your dad would be proud.” Eku ori ire, a Yoruba phrase, translates to “Congratulations on the good news.”
Despite their political differences, even Eshalomi acknowledged the significance of Badenoch’s achievement—recognizing her success as a beacon of pride for the Nigerian diaspora.
At 44, Badenoch’s political journey is both historic and typical of a British Nigerian’s trajectory: ambitious, well-educated, and relentlessly driven to succeed.
Having spent nearly a decade working with The Powerlist, a ranking of the most influential people of African and African-Caribbean descent in the UK, I’ve witnessed a surge in British Nigerians who dominate not only this list but also in various sectors worldwide. As a British Ghanaian, I can’t help but notice the rise of Nigerians in particular—be they those born in Nigeria or those who split their time between the UK and Nigeria.
With a population of around 220 million, Nigeria is one of the most populous nations, with an estimated 17 million Nigerians living abroad. In the UK, 271,390 people identified as Nigerian in the 2021 census. This growing influence is seen across many fields, from business to politics, to entertainment. The list of notable British Nigerians includes cybersecurity expert Tom Ilube, McKinsey managing partner Tunde Olanrewaju, banker Kene Ejikeme, and Funmi Adegoke, CEO at Halma, among many others.
In sport and entertainment, British Nigerians like David Oyelowo, John Boyega, Cynthia Erivo, Anthony Joshua, Bukayo Saka, and KSI are making waves. Even in the food industry, Nigerian-owned upscale restaurants such as Akoko and Chishuru earned Michelin star recognition this year, with chef Adejoké Bakare becoming the first Black woman in Britain to receive one.
So, what sets Nigerian heritage apart? Badenoch’s story is not unique in many ways. Like many British Nigerians, she was born into a comfortable middle-class background. Her mother, Feyi Adegoke, was a professor, and her father, Femi, was a doctor. But things changed when political and economic instability hit Nigeria, causing the family to fall on hard times.
Badenoch’s story resonates with that of Nero Ughwujabo, who came to the UK at 15. Ughwujabo grew up in affluence in Nigeria, surrounded by successful figures like his parents and their friends. Ambition, drive, and the relentless push for education were instilled in him and many other Nigerian families. In fact, it is often said that Nigerian parents prioritize education above all else—a sentiment shared by many Nigerian immigrants and descendants across the globe.
For Michael Eboda, CEO of Powerful Media, the drive for education is deeply ingrained in Nigerian culture. Nigerians see education as the key to success, and they often push their children to excel academically, no matter the circumstances. Eboda recalls a sense of shame surrounding anything but top academic performance in Nigerian schools. In contrast, the UK school system didn’t offer the same level of pressure or competitive spirit.
When Badenoch arrived in the UK at 16, she noticed a lack of expectation from her teachers, who actively discouraged her from applying to top universities. Nevertheless, she persevered, earning a place at Sussex University to study computer engineering. Like many Nigerian families, her parents had high hopes that she would join the ranks of doctors, lawyers, or engineers—the prestigious careers seen as the ultimate goal.
Elaine C. Walker, a British-based educational consultant, works with many Nigerian parents who invest heavily in their children’s education. Despite challenges, Nigerian parents will do everything in their power to ensure their children succeed, viewing education as the best investment for the future.
Across the Atlantic, Nigerian-Americans also excel. The founder of the $3 billion scheduling platform Calendly, Tope Awotona, and Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, serve as prime examples of Nigerian success in the U.S. The Migration Policy Institute found that Nigerians are the most educated migrant group in the U.S., with 61% holding at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 31% of the total foreign-born population.
While education plays a key role, it’s also Nigerian ambition, self-belief, and resilience that drive success. Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife Group, highlights how British Nigerians embody tenacity, ambition, and a refusal to accept failure. The spirit of overcoming challenges is not just a personal drive but a cultural ethos. Abudu and others, like Ughwujabo, point to the pragmatic nature of Nigerians who play the long game, knowing that despite systemic challenges, they will persist.
Richard Iferenta, a top tax expert, shares his experience of how his qualifications were initially undervalued in the UK, but he refused to accept defeat. Like many Nigerian immigrants, he knew he had to push harder to prove his worth.
For Nigerian entrepreneurs like Damilare Ogunleye, the mindset is one of relentless perseverance. “The bar for frustration is very high for a Nigerian,” he says, emphasizing the resilience and determination to succeed no matter the odds.
Despite the successes of Nigerians abroad, many still look at the challenges within Nigeria’s borders and feel frustrated. Ughwujabo points to the “Japa” phenomenon—Nigerians leaving the country in search of better opportunities due to the nation’s poor governance.
Badenoch, too, has spoken about her frustrations with the UK’s attitude towards Africa, which fueled her decision to align with the Conservative Party. Her journey, from a young Nigerian girl to the leader of the Conservative Party, is a testament to the Nigerian ethos of ambition, resilience, and unyielding determination to succeed.
The Nigerian spirit can be summed up in the country’s unofficial motto: Naija no dey carry last, meaning “Nigerians will always strive to finish first.” Based on the achievements of British Nigerians across the globe, it’s clear that this spirit is unstoppable.
Source: The Times (UK)
