Dutch-Nigerian businessman Dr. Wiebe Boer has spoken out against UK opposition leader Kemi Badenoch after she said she no longer identifies as Nigerian. Boer described her remarks as troubling and damaging to how people view heritage and representation.
Boer, who was born and raised in Nigeria before becoming a Dutch citizen, shared his thoughts in a LinkedIn post on Friday. He explained that Nigeria still plays a huge role in his personal and professional life, no matter where he lives or works.
Badenoch, who was born in the UK to Nigerian parents, revealed on the Rosebud podcast with Gyles Brandreth that she has not renewed her Nigerian passport in over 20 years and no longer considers herself Nigerian.
“I’m Nigerian by ancestry and birth, but not by identity,” Badenoch said. She added that although she knows the country well and has family there, she no longer claims it as part of her personal identity.
In response, Boer said that as a proud Nigerian-born Dutchman, he embraces his Nigerian roots everywhere — from business meetings in Amsterdam to classrooms in Michigan and hospitals in Guyana. He said Nigeria shapes who he is and hearing Badenoch reject that connection was disappointing.
Boer compared her stance to that of leaders like Barack Obama and Rishi Sunak, who have never denied their ancestral heritage despite leading other nations.
“I’ve never heard Obama reject his Kenyan or Indonesian ties. I’ve never heard Sunak distance himself from his Indian or East African background,” he said.
He stressed that Nigerian identity is more relevant than ever in the UK today, highlighting the influence of Nigerians in sports, film, music, politics, literature, religion, and business.
Boer mentioned football stars Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze; actors Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cynthia Erivo, and David Oyelowo; singers Seal, Sade, and Dave; boxing champion Anthony Joshua; and award-winning author Ben Okri as proof of Nigerian talent and achievement.
He also pointed to Nigerian-owned or Nigerian-led businesses with a strong presence in the UK, such as Helios Investment Partners, IHS Towers, Seplat Energy, and Guaranty Trust Bank, noting their contributions to jobs, investment, and innovation.
Boer concluded that it is possible to criticise a country without abandoning it. He said that rejecting Nigeria sends the wrong message, and for those who know its challenges as well as its beauty and strength, it is painful. He vowed to always proudly represent Nigeria wherever he goes.
