Kemi Badenoch recalls machete handed to students at boarding school
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, has revealed that students at Nigeria’s Federal Government Girls College were provided with a machete and a hoe as part of their education. This was to enable them to maintain the school’s grounds, a practice that reflects the school’s harsh environment, reports BritPanorama.
Badenoch shared her experiences during an interview on Radio Four’s Desert Island Discs, describing her initial excitement about attending a boarding school, fueled by her readings of Enid Blyton. However, she quickly realised the reality was far from the idyllic vision of education she had imagined, likening it instead to “Lord of the Flies or a borstal.”
She noted, “It was very much survival of the fittest,” emphasizing the tough conditions under which she and her fellow pupils had to operate. “All of the girls had a hoe and a machete to cut the grass, because there were no lawn mowers,” she explained, indicating that the students themselves performed the maintenance work without any hired help.
After leaving the demanding environment of her educational institution, Badenoch found her entry into politics comparatively easier. She recounted, “I joined the Conservative Party in 2005 for the party aspect of it — socialising, drinks, hanging out with other young people,” adding that it was at the party where she met her husband.
Her chosen musical selections for the Desert Island Discs included highlights from Wet Wet Wet and the musical Hamilton, underscoring her diverse range of interests beyond politics.
This candid recollection serves to illustrate the formative experiences that have shaped Badenoch’s perspective, particularly her view on resilience and self-reliance in both education and politics.
In reflecting on Badenoch’s experiences, it becomes evident how early challenges can forge a unique outlook on responsibility and leadership, offering insights into the complexities of personal and political identities.
