In a recent interview, Bianca Ojukwu discusses her year-long residence in a hotel, providing insight into the circumstances that led to this extended stay.
During her Senate screening on Wednesday, ministerial nominee Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu recounted the challenges she encountered while serving as Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain. She revealed that due to the inadequate state of the Nigerian embassy in Madrid, she was compelled to live in a hotel for an entire year.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, nominated by President Bola Tinubu for the role of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, informed the Senate that the embassy’s rundown condition was not representative of Nigeria’s image on an international scale. Her experience led her to initiate a significant renovation project aimed at restoring the facility.
Bianca expressed, “I’d like to point out that my past records speak for themselves. As an ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, I spent a whole year in just one hotel room because when I arrived in Spain, the mission building was in such terrible condition.”
She remarked that the building’s location added to the embarrassment of the situation.
“The embassy was situated near the upscale Galagao estate, a place frequented by people attending various events and matches. She found it disheartening that this lavish building represented Nigeria in such an esteemed area.”
Determined to tackle the issue, she promptly initiated comprehensive repairs and renovations for not only the embassy but also the ambassador’s residence and other Nigerian properties in Spain.
“The Nigerian embassy in Madrid, as it stands today, is a result of my efforts during my time there,” Bianca stated, highlighting her aim to restore Nigeria’s image to truly represent the nation’s dignity.
She also highlighted the wider funding issues faced by many Nigerian embassies, explaining how insufficient financial resources hinder essential maintenance efforts.
She noted that in most missions, due to a lack of funding, ambassadors are often limited in their ability to carry out refurbishments.
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She stated that this financial shortfall has harmed Nigeria’s global reputation.
“It’s unfortunate that many embassies are experiencing this situation, which has significantly reduced our global standing,” she added.
Bianca urged the Nigerian government to prioritize maintaining embassies, emphasizing that these diplomatic facilities are crucial for advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives. These include promoting democracy, encouraging development, and supporting the diaspora.
She urged that the government, under the current president’s leadership, should investigate this issue, emphasizing that embassies act as hosts for international delegations, study tours, and exchanges.
“It is crucial that during these exchanges, you engage with patrons and colleagues in settings that truly represent Nigeria’s status,” she emphasized in her closing remarks, urging the government to take immediate action.
After her presentation, Bianca was requested to take a bow and exit.
She is one of the seven ministerial nominees who are currently undergoing screening by the Senate.
