President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded the appointment of Olukemi Badenoch as a minister in the new United Kingdom cabinet by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Johnson who took over from Theresa May last week, made the 39-year-old Nigerian-born Badenoch as his Minister of Children and Families to work in the Department of Education.
In a statement signed by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, President Buhari said the appointment was “well-deserved”.
He urged her to regard her new position as an opportunity to justify the confidence reposed in her by making lasting impact.
“The Nigerian leader, who said he had no doubt that Badenoch would succeed given her academic qualifications and parliamentary experience, also enjoined the junior minister to see herself as an ambassador of her fatherland in conduct and performance,” the statement read.
Acknowledging that Badenoch’s appointment is a plus for Nigerians in Diaspora, Buhari was quoted to have said: “It further confirms my belief that with hard work and integrity, Nigerians can excel in their chosen professions and fields of endeavour anywhere in the world.”
The president, while also applauding Prime Minister Johnson for finding Badenoch suitable, wished her success in the new challenging role.