British Conservative politician and current Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, has opened up about her difficult childhood experiences at a boarding school in Nigeria, drawing a stark comparison between her time there and life in prison.
In a recent interview reflecting on her early life, Badenoch described her time at Federal Government Girls’ College, Sagamu—a government-run boarding school in southwestern Nigeria—as deeply challenging. According to her, the strict routines and laborious tasks students were subjected to left lasting emotional and physical impressions.
“It felt like being in prison,” she said, recalling daily wake-up calls as early as 5 a.m. and being forced to cut tall grass with machetes as part of school duties. “I remember getting blisters on my hands. It was very tough, mentally and physically.”
Badenoch, who was born in the UK in 1980 but spent much of her youth in Nigeria, has often spoken about how her experiences growing up in a country marked by corruption, instability, and inadequate infrastructure shaped her worldview and political philosophy.
While acknowledging that her family was considered “middle class” in Nigeria, she noted that even those from relatively stable homes faced daily struggles—such as power outages, water shortages, and unsafe environments. She explained that her experiences in Nigeria gave her a deeper appreciation for the UK’s systems of order, opportunity, and accountability.
“Growing up in Nigeria taught me resilience, but it also made me determined to fight for a society where children don’t have to suffer under broken systems. My experiences didn’t break me—they shaped my sense of purpose.”
At age 16, Badenoch returned to the UK to live with a relative and finish her education, arriving with little money but a strong will to succeed. Today, she is one of the most influential women in British politics, known for her outspoken views on culture, governance, and meritocracy.
Despite her criticisms of Nigeria’s challenges, Badenoch made it clear that her intention is not to belittle the country but to advocate for better governance and opportunities for young people, particularly in developing nations.