Ministerial nominee Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu shared her challenging experience as Nigeria’s former ambassador to Spain during her Senate screening on Wednesday.
She recounted that she lived in a hotel for a year due to the poor condition of the Nigerian embassy in Madrid.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, nominated by President Bola Tinubu for the position of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, emphasized the importance of presenting a strong image of Nigeria abroad.
She explained that the embassy’s deteriorated state did not align with Nigeria’s diplomatic image and hampered its operations.
Motivated to improve the embassy’s condition, she spearheaded a significant refurbishment project, which she described as essential for Nigeria’s representation in Spain.
Bianca said, “I 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.”
She recounted that the building’s ruin was particularly embarrassing given its location.
“The embassy was located very close to the upscale estate of Galagao, where people would pass by on their way to various events and matches.
“It was disheartening that this decadent structure represented Nigeria in such a prestigious area,” she stated.
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’s residence and other Nigerian-owned properties in Spain.
“The Nigerian embassy in Madrid that you see today is the product of my time in that country,” she said, noting that her focus was to restore Nigeria’s image to one that “truly deserves a designation of outstanding.”
She also highlighted the ongoing challenges Nigerian embassies face worldwide due to limited funding, which often constrains ambassadors in performing much-needed maintenance.
She added, “In most missions, because of no more funding, most ambassadors are constrained when it comes to carrying out refurbishments.”
This shortage of funds, she said, “prevents embassies from showcasing Nigeria’s stature, impacting the country’s standing on the global stage.”
“It 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,” she noted.
Emphasising the importance of respectable diplomatic representations, Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged the Nigerian government to prioritize embassy maintenance under the current administration.
She cited the nation’s foreign policy objectives of promoting democracy, development, and the Nigerian diaspora as critical areas that require embassies with dignified facilities.
“This is something that the government, under this president, should look into,” she said, pointing out that embassies often host international delegations, study tours, and exchanges, making respectable surroundings crucial.
“It is imperative that when you are in those exchanges, you meet your patrons and colleagues in environments that reflect Nigeria’s true standing,” she said, concluding her remarks with a plea for urgent intervention.
After her response, she was thereafter asked to take a bow and go.
Bianca is one of the seven ministerial nominees currently being screened by the Red Chamber.