On Wednesday, October 23, President Bola Tinubu finally fulfilled the promise of reshuffling his cabinet after weeks of back and forth.
Prior to his vacation trip, the Nigerian leader had made his plans to reshuffle his cabinet known.
As usual, this decision sparked a wave of controversy.
To many, the hardship and hunger ravaging the country should be of major concern than what the president intends to do.
However, to the ministers and cabinet members whose fate hanged on the balance, the planned move sparked nothing but fear.
Whispers of prayers could be heard in silent corners as these ministers prayed to whatever they worship to spare their jobs.
Shortly after Tinubu’s return to Nigeria from his much controversial vacation, the heat increased.
Days later, the reshuffle began.
Cabinet Reshuffle
Indeed, while some were busy praying to God to save their jobs, other people were praying gain their roles.
Well, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, could have been one of such people.
As part of the reshuffle move by Tinubu, Bianca was appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
This appointment has popped her name up on the trends with every Nigerian eager to know more about the ex-beauty queen, who exudes a warm and approachable demeanour.
Over the years, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has maintained a low profile, save for her ambassadorial duties and political leanings.
A diplomat, lawyer, businesswoman and beauty pageant titleholder, Bianca is the popular widow of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
She is a multiple international pageant titleholder, having won Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Miss Africa and Miss Intercontinental. Formerly a presidential advisor.
Shortly after her husband’s death, she had some diplomatic appointments that brought her to the forefront of politics.
After almost 17 years of marriage, her husband, Ojukwu died in the United Kingdom after a brief illness at 78. He was buried in a newly built mausoleum in his compound at Nnewi.
Court Battles
In 2011, she was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Bianca became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana in 2012 and in the same year, she was appointed the Ambassador of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Spain.
Following the death of her husband, Bianca was thrust into a lengthy legal battle with Ojukwu’s first son, Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu.
The battle, characterised by a series of court cases, spurred a great deal of controversy about the late Biafran leader and the chaos in his family.
At the end of the court battle, which ruled in her favour, Bianca had the lion’s share of her late husband’s will.
The Lavish Wedding
Although Bianca and Ojukwu had been in a relationship since 1989, they formally married on November 12, 1994.
The wedding was the talk of the town in those days; it was a lavish wedding ceremony in Abuja. Bianca was 22, while Mr Ojukwu was in his 50s.
Their union is blessed with three children Chineme, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu.
From the early 1990s till date, Bianca’s name has become synonymous with beauty. A multiple international pageant titleholder, Bianca emerged as the winner of Miss Martini in 1987 and the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 1988.
Bianca Ojukwu, The Beauty Queen
Bianca reigned through most of 1989, mainly when she emerged as Miss Africa 1989 at the pageant held in The Gambia.
She represented Nigeria at the Miss World in Hong Kong and Miss Universe in Mexico following her win.
In the same year, she achieved success when she won Miss Intercontinental and was named Miss Congeniality at the now-defunct Miss Charm International in Russia, where she was also a semi-finalist.
She made history as the first Nigerian and African to win Miss The Intercontinental pageant.
Education
Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu attended Ackworth School, Pontefract, St Andrews College, Cambridge, and Cambridge Tutorial College where she obtained her A-levels.
Also Read: Tinubu Sacks Five Ministers In Latest Reshuffle Move, See Full List
She began a combined honours degree in Politics, Economics and Law at the University of Buckingham but transferred to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka after her father, a lawyer by profession, insisted she concentrated solely on Law and join the family business.
Following graduation, Bianca attended the Nigerian Law School which eventually led to her call to the bar.
Political Ambition
She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the Political Party that was founded by her late husband and which has maintained political power in Anambra State for over a decade.
Her bid to represent her senatorial district in 2018 was stalled as a result of irregularities which occurred during her party’s primary elections.
