Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu: Biography, Controversy And Numerous Achievements

Bianca has her real full name as Odinakachukwu Olivia Odumegwu-Ojukwu. She is a beautiful Nigerian politician, diplomat, lawyer, businesswoman and beauty pageant titleholder and widow of former Biafra leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Bianca was born on August 5, 1968 to the former of governor of Anambra State, C.C. Onoh and the sixth child in the family. Her mother Carol, was a college principal. She had her upbringing in rural Ngwo with her siblings Lilian, Josephine, Nuzo, Gabriel, Stella, Christian and Josef.

Bianca’s Educational Background

Bianca had her education at Ackworth School, Pontefract, St Andrews College, Cambridge and Cambridge Tutorial College where she obtained her A-levels.

She thereafter began a combined honours degree in Politics, Economics and Law at the University of Buckingham. On the father’s advise, Bianca transferred to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka  to complete her law education. Upon graduation, she attended the Nigerian Law School and was eventually called to the bar after which she joined the family business.

Bianca Odemegwu has since recorded lots of achievements in various human endeavours.

She set up a Cosmetics business Bianca Blend and her interior decorating outfit Mirabella and fronted print commercials for her brand.

She also established the non-government organization, Hope House Trust, centred towards rehabilitating juvenile offenders in Enugu.

Bianca Odemegwu won Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Miss Africa and Miss Intercontinental.

Pageantry

In December 1988, Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who had previously emerged winner at Miss Martini, was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, but reigned through most of 1989.

She won the Miss Africa 1989 pageant held in Gambia before representing her country at both Miss World in Hong Kong and Miss Universe in Mexico.

She also recorded huge success when she became the first African to win Miss Intercontinental that same year, and was named Miss Congeniality at the now defunct Miss Charm International in Russia where she was also a semi-finalist.

Diplomacy

Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu is a renowned diplomat.

In 2011, Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012.

She became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana and later Ambassador to the Kingdom Of Spain.

In 2016, Odumegwu-Ojukwu received a master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Alfonso X el Sabio University in Spain.

She is now Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Bianca Odemegwu has founded several charitable organizations, including Hope House Trust, which focuses on rehabilitating juvenile offenders.

On 23 October 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs during his Cabinet reshuffle.

Controversy

In 1989, halfway through her reign as MBGN, Odumegwu-Ojukwu began a relationship with the former Biafran Head of State Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a political associate of her father’s, over thirty years her senior. This controversial romance did not augur well the beauty pageant as it almost ruined her relationship with her father in the early 1990s.

The immense pressure of being under the public eye became increasingly unbearable, causing her to resign as Miss Intercontinental as her main concern was completing her education as a law student.

In 1994, despite the controversies that surrounded their relationship, Bianca eventually married the former Biafran leader in an elaborate wedding ceremony held in Abuja, the federal capital territory of Nigeria.

In 2012, following the death of her husband, his will, which left most of his assets to her, generated a great deal of controversy and disaffection among several family members.

Bianca appealed to her critics to allow Ikemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu to “rest in peace”, describing him as a man of honour and integrity whose legacy should not be obscured by rancour over inheritance issues and stating that the will was drafted in 2005, registered and placed in the custody of the State Probate Registry with the legal witnesses and executors, who were present at the time it was prepared, still living.

In 2023, she won her legal battle over the Ojukwu Estate.

Another unforgettable issue in Bianca’s life was what was widely described as a ‘Valedictory Slap’ to the wife of former governor of Anambra State Ebelechukwu Obiano on 17 March 2022, during the inaugural ceremony of governor Chukwuma Soludo. The outgoing first lady of Anambra State had physically attacked her at the state function.

Awards

Odumegwu-Ojukwu has in her journey of life bagged several honours.

She was honoured with the Certificate of Merit by El Mundo Diplomatico for her efforts towards providing effective platforms for constructive engagement between Nigeria and Spain, and was voted Africa’s Outstanding Ambassador by Dutch magazine The Voice in 2014.

In 2016, Bianca was also honored with the “Ambassador of Excellence” Award by the Government of Anambra State, Nigeria at its Silver Jubilee commemoration.

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 Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu 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.

She is presently the secretary of the Truth, Justice and Peace Commission set up in 2022 to investigate the root causes of violence, insecurity and separatist agitations in South-Eastern Nigeria and minister of state for foreign affairs under President Tinubu administration.

Her Personal Life

Odumegwu-Ojukwu was married to Ikemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu until his death in 2011; the couple was blessed with three children. She revealed that though her marriage was blissful, she would not encourage her daughter to make a similar choice of marital engagement.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu holds many traditional titles in her native land as well as the highest chieftaincy title conferred on women in her region.

In summary, Bianca Odemegwu Ojukwu is an accomplished personality who has made significant contributions to Nigeria’s foreign policy, business and social welfare.