Ministerial nominee Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during her Senate screening on Wednesday, recounted her challenging experience as Nigeria\u2019s ambassador to Spain, revealing that she lived in a hotel for a year due to the dilapidated state of the Nigerian embassy in Madrid.<\/p>\n
President Bola Tinubu nominated Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n
Speaking at screening before the Senate on Wednesday, she detailed how the embassy\u2019s deteriorated condition did not align with Nigeria\u2019s image abroad and how it motivated her to lead an extensive refurbishment project.<\/p>\n
Bianca said, \u201cI would like to say that my past records speak for me. As an 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
She recounted that the building\u2019s ruin was particularly embarrassing given its location.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe embassy was located very close to the upscale estate of Galagao, where people would pass by on their way to various events and matches.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was disheartening that this decadent structure represented Nigeria in such a prestigious area,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that she took immediate steps to address the issues, organising significant repairs and preservation efforts to overhaul not only the mission building but also the ambassador\u2019s residence and other Nigerian-owned properties in Spain.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Nigerian embassy in Madrid that you see today is the product of my time in that country,\u201d she said, noting that her focus was to restore Nigeria\u2019s image to one that \u201ctruly deserves a designation of outstanding.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also highlighted the ongoing challenges Nigerian embassies face worldwide due to limited funding, which often constrains ambassadors in performing much-needed maintenance.<\/p>\n
She added, \u201cIn most missions, because of no more funding, most ambassadors are constrained when it comes to carrying out refurbishments.<\/p>\n
This shortage of funds, she said, \u201dprevents embassies from showcasing Nigeria\u2019s stature, impacting the country\u2019s standing on the global stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is unfortunate because a lot of embassies are going through this situation, and it has, to a large extent, diminished our standing around the world,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Emphasising the importance of respectable diplomatic representations, Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged the Nigerian government to prioritize embassy maintenance under the current administration.<\/p>\n
She cited the nation\u2019s foreign policy objectives of promoting democracy, development, and the Nigerian diaspora as critical areas that require embassies with dignified facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is something that the government, under this president, should look into,\u201d she said, pointing out that embassies often host international delegations, study tours, and exchanges, making respectable surroundings crucial.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is imperative that when you are in those exchanges, you meet your patrons and colleagues in environments that reflect Nigeria\u2019s true standing,\u201d she said, concluding her remarks with a plea for urgent intervention.<\/p>\n
After her response, she was thereafter asked to take a bow and go.<\/p>\n
Ministerial nominee Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during her Senate screening on Wednesday, recounted her challenging experience as Nigeria\u2019s ambassador to Spain, revealing that she lived in a hotel for a year due…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":114935,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-114934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n