Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, a ministerial nominee and former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, has raised fresh concerns about the poor state of Nigerian embassies around the world.
During her ministerial screening before the Senate on Wednesday, Ojukwu, who is nominated to serve as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, reflected on her time as an ambassador and the challenges she faced.
Expressing her disappointment in the current state of Nigeria’s foreign missions, Ojukwu said, “The Nigerian embassy in Madrid that you see today is the product of my time in that country.”
She highlighted her efforts to restore Nigeria’s diplomatic presence in Spain, adding, “Today, the Nigerian embassy in Spain is magnificent. Not just that, but the residence of the ambassador was also given a facelift.”
Ojukwu, who earned the prestigious title of Africa’s Most Outstanding Ambassador during her diplomatic service, detailed the conditions she encountered upon her arrival in Spain. She revealed that she lived in a hotel room for a year due to the deplorable condition of the embassy building.
“As a former 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,” she said.
Despite the initial challenges, Ojukwu led a significant transformation of the embassy and ambassadorial residence.
“With the recruiting and training of officers, we conducted a massive preservation of works, not just the mission building itself, giving Nigeria a name that is truly deserving of a designation of outstanding,” she remarked, underscoring her commitment to improving Nigeria’s diplomatic image.
As Ojukwu prepares to assume the role of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, she stressed the importance of maintaining Nigeria’s embassies globally, ensuring that they reflect the country’s dignity and status on the international stage.