Prime minister Boris Johnson has appointed Nigerian Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch as Children and Families’ minister, as part of his government reshuffle.
The 39-year-old Badenoch is a British Conservative politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Saffron Walden.
Badenoch announced her new appointment on Monday, July 29. She tweeted:
I’m humbled to have been appointed a junior minister at the DfE. A huge privilege to be able to serve and make a positive difference on a number of issues close to my heart. I look forward to working with the ministerial team and everyone at @educationgovuk …(1/3)
— Kemi Badenoch MP (@KemiBadenoch) July 29, 2019
Thank you for all good wishes and kind messages of support received. I also look forward to working not just with @Conservatives colleagues but cross-party and grateful for the warm welcome from @TracyBrabin and @SteveReedMP who no doubt will be keeping me on my toes! (2/3)
— Kemi Badenoch MP (@KemiBadenoch) July 29, 2019
And finally apologies to anyone who I have not responded to directly. If I don’t follow you, then I won’t have seen anything you posted on twitter. Please send an email instead! (3/3)
— Kemi Badenoch MP (@KemiBadenoch) July 29, 2019
The junior minister’s responsibilities include early years policy, including inspection and regulation. Her portfolio includes delivery of 30 hours free childcare offer, special educational needs including high needs funding, safeguarding in schools and disadvantaged pupils – including pupil premium and pupil premium plus.
Badenoch who spent her childhood Lagos, Nigeria, and the United States of America was born in Wimbledon, London to Nigerian parents who are medical doctor and a physiology professor. She later relocated to the United Kingdom at 16. She has been the MP for Saffron Walden since 2017 after replacing Nadhim Zawahi.
She is software and IT engineer. She studied systems engineering at Sussex University and also has a law degree. She has worked in the banking sector for Coutts and RBS.
The mother of two once shared with MPs on the floor of the parliament her own experiences of poverty and how she used to do her homework by candlelight.
The girlfriend of newly appointed British prime minister, Boris Johnson, has an intimidating profile.
Carrie Symonds, 31, was a former Tory spin doctor. She was the communications and PR executive and once worked with Conservative Campaign Headquarters in 2018. She is said to be the brains behind his visual rebrand in months preceding the election.
