The senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Iyom Bianca Odumegwu – Ojukwu and six other ministerial nominees of President Bola Tinubu, whose names were submitted to the upper chamber last week for accelerated consideration and approval.
Other nominees confirmed by the Senate alongside Bianca Ojukwu after hours-long gruelling screening session by the Committee are: Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi; Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata; Idi Mukhtar Maiha; Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Suwaiba Said Ahmad Ph.D.
The Daily Crucible reports that during her screening by the Senate earlier on Wednesday, Bianca Ojukwu recalled her challenging experience as Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain, revealing that she stayed in a hotel for a year due to the deplorable state of the Nigerian embassy in Madrid.
President Bola Tinubu nominated the former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria as the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs.
Addressing the Senate on Wednesday while giving her remarks, she recounted how the embassy’s dilapidated condition jarred with the Nigeria’s image abroad, prompting her to spearhead a move towards its comprehensive refurbishment.
She said the building’s ruinous condition at the time was particularly embarrassing given its location.
The daughter of ex – Governor of Anambra State, C.C Onoh, harped on the importance of deserving diplomatic representations, urging the Nigerian government to prioritize embassy maintenance under the current administration.
She cited the nation’s foreign policy objectives of promoting democracy, development, and the Nigerian diaspora as significant areas that require embassies with dignified facilities.
She also pointed out the ongoing challenges Nigerian embassies face worldwide due to paucity of funds, which often stymies ambassadors’ efforts at carrying out the much-needed facility maintenance.
Bianca said, “I would like to say that my past records speak for me. As an ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, I spent an entire year in one hotel room because when I got to Spain, the mission building was in such an appalling condition.
“The embassy was located very close to the upscale estate of Galagao, where people would pass by on their way to various events and matches.
“It was disheartening that this decadent structure represented Nigeria in such a prestigious area.
“The Nigerian embassy in Madrid that you see today is the product of my time in that country,” she said, noting that her focus was to restore Nigeria’s image to one that “truly deserves a designation of outstanding.
“In most missions, because of no more funding, most ambassadors are constrained when it comes to carrying out refurbishments.
“Shortage of funds prevents embassies from showcasing Nigeria’s stature, impacting the country’s standing on the global stage.
“It is unfortunate because a lot of embassies are going through this situation, and it has, to a large extent, diminished our standing around the world.
“This is something that the government, under this president, should look into,” she said, pointing out that embassies often host international delegations, study tours, and exchanges, making respectable surroundings crucial.
“It is imperative that when you are in those exchanges, you meet your patrons and colleagues in environments that reflect Nigeria’s true standing.”
