- Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s ministerial nominee, shared her year-long stay in a hotel due to the dilapidated state of the embassy in Madrid during her Senate screening.
- President Bola Tinubu has nominated Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs.
- At a Senate screening, she discussed the embassy’s poor state, which disapproved of Nigeria’s international image, prompting her to spearhead a major refurbishment project.
Ministerial nominee Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu shared her difficult tenure as Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain during her Senate screening on Wednesday. She disclosed that she resided in a hotel for an entire year due to the poor condition of the Nigerian embassy in Madrid.
President Bola Tinubu has put forward Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu for the position of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
In her address to the Senate during the screening, she emphasized that the embassy’s dilapidated state did not reflect Nigeria’s reputation internationally, which inspired her to initiate a comprehensive renovation project.
Bianca remarked, “I would like to assert that my previous achievements speak for themselves. As the ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, I was compelled to live in a hotel room for a full year because the mission building was in such a deplorable state upon my arrival in Spain.”
“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,” she stated.
“The Nigerian embassy in Madrid that you see today is the product of my time in that country,” She remarked, emphasizing that her priority was to rehabilitate Nigeria’s reputation to one that “truly deserves a designation of outstanding.”
In other news, British actress Sophie Turner has discussed her choice to relocate from the United States during her divorce from former husband Joe Jonas.
In an interview with ‘Harper’s Bazaar‘ for their December/January edition, the ‘Game of Thrones‘ actress provided insights into her difficult year, which culminated in the finalization of her divorce from Jonas in September.
Turner, 28, indicated that feelings of homesickness and a desire to return to her native UK, coupled with concerns regarding issues such as gun violence and the reversal of Roe v. Wade, significantly influenced her decision to move.
She recounted her habit of seeking out British shops in American cities to find familiar products, including chocolate.
The actress, who is also slated to receive the Performance Award at the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2024, mentioned that her return to the UK has instilled a sense of tranquility in her life.
Currently in a relationship with aristocrat Peregrine Pearson, Turner remarked, “It felt as if my life was on pause until I returned to England.”
Reflecting on her absence, she noted the missed opportunities to share significant moments with friends and family, stating, “I just never really feel like myself when I’m not in London.”
