On November 4, 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Bianca Ojukwu as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Her career in public service has been impressive, starting with her appointment as Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.
She later served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain and currently represents Nigeria at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
Bianca’s path to diplomacy, however, was preceded by a remarkable career in pageantry.
At 20, she was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (1988) and later went on to win Miss Africa and Miss Intercontinental titles.
Beyond beauty, she is a successful businesswoman, managing BiancaBlend Products Limited, and a philanthropist, founding an organisation like Hope House Trust.
Born into the family of the former Anambra State Governor, Christian Onoh, Bianca holds a Law degree from the University of Nigeria and a Master’s in International Relations from Alfonso X el Sabio University in Spain.
Her marriage to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Biafran warlord, adds a layer of historical significance to her profile.
With her new role, Bianca aims to protect the interests of Nigerians abroad while promoting sustainable tourism and economic development. She views her appointment as a “second missionary journey,” and hopes to bring her wealth of experience in international relations to bear on the country’s diplomatic agenda.
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