August 5, 2025 | Lagos, Nigeria | www.interfaceafrica.co.uk
Former Aviation Minister and political analyst, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has fiercely condemned UK Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch over her recent comments on Nigeria’s educational system.
Badenoch, who previously attended Federal Government College, Sagamu, likened her experience to “a prison,” describing conditions as “grotty” and alleging that students cut grass with machetes and washed toilets without water.
The remarks, made on August 1, 2025, have drawn strong backlash across West Africa, with critics from Lagos, Abuja, Accra, and the broader diaspora accusing her of misrepresenting Nigeria’s reality for political mileage.
In a strongly-worded statement titled “Kemi Oomoale Badenough: A Liar By No Other Name,” Fani-Kayode accused Badenoch of peddling falsehoods about Nigeria for the second time in a month.
“She is the proverbial serpent spreading venom, distorting truth, and hell-bent on destroying Nigeria’s image,” said Fani-Kayode
Fani-Kayode pointed to an earlier claim by Badenoch that children of Nigerian women and foreign men are denied citizenship as another “reckless fabrication,” widely debunked by constitutional law experts across Nigeria and Ghana.
West African Backlash: Regional Discontent in Lagos, Accra, Nairobi
From media circles in Nairobi to civic groups in Accra, Badenoch’s statements have sparked renewed debates about diaspora disconnection, post-colonial identity, and public figures’ responsibility in representing their countries of origin.
Local education advocates and alumni from Federal Government Colleges across Johannesburg, Lagos, and Port Harcourt shared reviews discrediting Badenoch’s depiction:
“As an FGC alumnus in Lagos, I can tell you her story is exaggerated and misrepresentative,” said Dr. Abiodun Shobowale, a Lagos-based historian and policy analyst.
Call for Action: Citizenship Revocation and Sanctions
Citing national interest, Fani-Kayode urged the Nigerian government to revoke Badenoch’s Nigerian passport and declare her persona non grata, stating she no longer identifies with Nigeria and routinely uses her platform to “de-market and defame the country.”
“Her pathological obsession with denigrating Nigeria is dangerous and must be addressed at the diplomatic level,” he added from Abuja.
Quoting biblical references from 2 Timothy 4:14 and 1 Corinthians 5, Fani-Kayode likened Badenoch’s actions to those of historical traitors, adding a spiritual dimension to what he sees as “irreparable damage to the collective dignity of Nigerians worldwide.”
Why This Matters for Africa’s Global Image
As Africa positions itself on the global stage through trade, education, and technology, the image of countries like #Nigeria, #Ghana, and #Kenya remains vulnerable to diaspora misrepresentation.
“Leaders of African descent in the West must balance critique with context and respect. Badenoch failed that test,” said Prof. Kwame Mensah, a governance specialist in Accra.
Interface Africa’s Editorial Note
At Interface Africa Magazine, with correspondents across Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and the broader African diaspora, we remain committed to:
- Promoting factual narratives about African institutions
- Encouraging responsible diaspora engagement
- Elevating credible African voices in global discourse
We invite readers from Cape Town to Casablanca to share their views on the controversy and submit reviews on their personal experiences with Nigeria’s educational system.
Published by Interface Africa Magazine
📍 Lagos | Abuja | Accra | Nairobi | Johannesburg
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#KemiBadenoch #FemiFaniKayode #DiasporaAccountability #AfricanLeadership #LagosMedia #AccraPolitics #NairobiOpinion #FGCSagamu #2025AfricaNews #InterfaceAfricaMagazine
