There was no opposition from diverse political parties on her recent promotion as the first female Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was indeed a breath of fresh air her initial appointment as Minister of State in this administration. She was eminently qualified as she had hitherto served as Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, Ambassador to Spain and Ghana during the Jonathan administration. Talking about a round peg in a round hole.
Bianca is a delectable and cerebral lady with historical dimensions under her belt. She is a daughter of a former Governor in the South Eastern region of the country in the person of Chief C.C Onoh. He was a wealthy landowner too. She also was married to the great Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Biafran warlord and irrepressible personality. Together they were cynosure of all eyes during the Second Republic as the lion and the jewel.
She was a beauty queen in her early life garnering national and Intercontinental titles. She was Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria as well as Miss Intercontinental and Africa in the eighties.
She read law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and has a Masters degree in International Relations in Spain.
Today the Foreign Ministry is under her belt and she’s sure to run it with much aplomb and finesse. Last year, she was instrumental in quelling the agitations against Nigerians in Ghana through deft diplomatic moves between both governments.
She has accompanied President Tinubu to critical foreign trips to shore up Nigeria’s image. One of such was the installation of Pope Leo at the Vatican last year.
She was on the President’s entourage to United Kingdom on the State Visit to King Charles 111.
She was a class act at these events as the face of Nigeria in international space.
The current South African Xenophobic uprising is now on her plate. She will surely bring to bear her legal, lifestyle and administrative leanings to resolve this recurring nightmare.
Kudos to Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu for her transformation from a beauty queen to an accomplished politician and administrator.
Are you proud of our gender’s frontline position as the nation’s top diplomat? Are you glad that women are standing up to be counted in the political arena? Are you joining us to place garlands on her neck as a lady of beauty and brains?
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By Mubo Okosun
Women’s Editor
