A recent comment by Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, UK
Conservative Party leader and British-Nigerian politician, has triggered debate
within the Nigerian diaspora following her interview on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria
GPS. While discussing immigration, Badenoch remarked, “It’s virtually
impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I have that citizenship
by virtue of my parents, I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”
The statement has drawn widespread attention, with
legal experts and diaspora leaders clarifying that it contradicts the Nigerian
Constitution. According to Section 25(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, any
person born outside Nigeria is a citizen by birth if either of their parents or
grandparents is a Nigerian citizen — with no gender-based restrictions. Thus,
Nigerian women are equally empowered under the law to pass citizenship to their
children.
While some suggest Badenoch’s experience may have been
shaped by bureaucratic hurdles common in diaspora engagements with Nigerian
authorities, observers stress that such challenges do not reflect the
constitutional reality. A senior Nigerian diplomat reaffirmed that the law
supports citizenship transmission from both mothers and fathers, provided due
process is followed.
Badenoch’s ascent in UK politics is widely celebrated
among African and Caribbean communities. However, her global platform means her
words influence perceptions of Nigeria. Critics argue that her misstatement may
inadvertently perpetuate outdated views about African legal systems and gender
equity.
The moment, commentators say, should serve not as an
indictment, but as an opportunity to correct misinformation and promote a
richer understanding of Nigerian identity and law in the diaspora. Public
figures, they urge, must speak with both pride and accuracy about their
heritage.
BEN Television reiterated its commitment to fostering
constructive conversations and celebrating diaspora achievements while
upholding factual discourse.
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