Senate President Godswill Akpabio cautioned Senator Osita Ngwu after he commented on the appearance of Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu during her ministerial screening in the Senate on the 30th of October, 2024.
Bianca, along with six other ministerial candidates, presented their qualifications to the Senate before responding to questions.
Nominated for the role of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, she faced a series of inquiries from the lawmakers.
When Akpabio opened the floor for questions, Ngwu, the Senator representing Enugu West in the 10th National Assembly, began by complimenting Bianca’s beauty, prompting a reprimand from Akpabio.
“Mr President, the beautiful nominee standing before us,” the Ngwu said.
“Restrict yourself to the resume. Forget this word beautiful,” Akpabio chimed in with a playful interruption. “She didn’t put in the CV that she is beautiful.”
The exchange between Ngwu and Akpabio sparked laughter among the Senators. Following this lighthearted moment, Ngwu took the opportunity to commend the nominee’s qualifications and impressive background.
Meanwhile, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia South District expressed confidence in Bianca’s capabilities, affirming her competence and readiness for the role. He also praised President Bola Tinubu for appointing the “mother” of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the ministerial position, remarking, “By bringing an APGA person to be a minister has already started a unity government and national integration.”
Afterward, the nominee was invited to take a bow.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu brings a distinguished profile as a diplomat, lawyer, entrepreneur, and former beauty queen.
Recall that In 2011, then-President Goodluck Jonathan appointed her as Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs, and she later served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana before becoming Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain.
She also holds the position of Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
As the widow of the former Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Bianca has earned multiple international beauty pageant titles, further cementing her unique legacy.