Bianca makes things work for Nigerians in Spain

Bianca Ojukwu

By Uchendu Precious Onuoha 

The one year period that once Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) and the widow of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojoukwu, Bianca Odinaka Ojukwu has piloted affairs as the Nigerian ambassador to the kingdom of Spain has improved the lot of Nigerians living in Spain. The beautiful  ambassador whose her charming beauty still remains  even at her late 40s always take me back to memory lane about the remarks made about her in the book Because I am Involved by her husband.

According to Ojukwu, “saying that Bianca is beautiful, is stating the obvious, and is just like one standing in front of the White House and say this building is tall.”

One of her course mates in an interview with the press during her reign as beauty queen once expressed that he was not sure of graduating because of Bianca as he loses concentration whenever Bianca is in the class. Even today in Spain, the Spanish cannot hide their admiration of her as my Spanish colleagues would always tell me que guapa eran su embajadorameaning, “what a beauty is your ambassador!”

It is said that “character is beauty.” Her humane, clever, and simple nature caught my attention the first time I met her in her office.

Before  her arrival, the embassy and its activity seemed to be foreign to many Nigerian in Spain as it was not very responsive to their plight. It appeared they were on a different mission other than for Nigerians in Spain. By then going to the embassy used to be a nightmare to many. The long wait and impolite attitude of some of the officials would make one wonder the type of training and orientation they received for their job. It usually was a case of whom you know.

According to Bianca who noticed that on arrival, commented during the meeting with the new executives of the Nigerian Nationals Association (NNA) Madrid, “The relationship between Nigerians and the embassy is that of acrimony and zero tolerance from Nigerians.”

But today, the case is different, the staff attitude towards Nigerians have improved as they have become responsive to Nigerians.

Bianca’s leadership has bridged the gap between the embassy and Nigerians. On arrival, she went on to gather Nigerians, under the umbrella of a united Nigeria,  as a hen would gather her chickens under her protective wings; all the associations, churches and stakeholders that make up the federation of Nigeria in the kingdom of Spain. She highlighted on the need for all to come on board and work as partners to move Nigerians in Spain forward. Whichever occasion she attends she has always urged Nigerians to be one another’s keeper and to always think about home knowing that they are in a foreign land.

This writer, who has been privileged to interact closely with the embassy of recent, has realised that the ambassador is really poised to work for the welfare of Nigerian citizens in the kingdom of Spain. In one of the meetings with the new executives of the NNA, she made it known to the officials that the current group of ambassadors and diplomats have as their priority, the welfare of Nigerians. That the embassy is not just a place to obtain passport but that the main objective is to assure that Nigerians abroad are well taken care of.

This piece will not be complete without mentioning the areas in which she has done well especially with the help of L.D.G. Gboko, one of the most dynamic, seasoned diplomats at the embassy. There is a drastic change and improvement in the attitude and response of the embassy towards Nigerian citizens. The embassy has become more responsive to issues affecting Nigerians, having realised that they are here because we are there. The embassy under the leadership of Bianca Ojukwu, has given a listening ear and shown concern to the plight of distressed Nigerian citizens in Spain. Worthy of mention is the case of Ugochukwu who has languished in such a precarious situation for about three years in Madrid.

This writer drew the attention of the embassy to his predicament and the embassy responded to his plight and made all necessary efforts including undergoing the process of rigorous judicial process on his behalf with the Spanish authority, obtained all the necessary clearance to warrant his deportation to Nigeria. Finally, on August 22, 2013, Ugochukwu was flown home to Nigeria and is now under the custody of his family for rehabilitation.  The ambassador has expressed her concern on the fate of deported Nigerians stating that they should not just be abandoned to rot away especially those that are distressed or has mental problems. She mentioned that the embassy is trying to get agencies to take care of those deported for proper rehabilitation.

Her attention was drawn to the maltreatment and torture of Nigerians on deportation list by the Spanish police. The embassy responded towards that by following up the matter to locate the victims by making investigation up to Nigeria so as to ascertain claims against the Spanish authority on a particular incident that reportedly happened on April 6, 2013 at Madrid Barajas Airport.

On Jun 5, 2013 in Bilbao, Ada Ortuya, a Nigerian lady was murdered by a Spanish Kung Fu martial artist. The embassy intervened into the matter to ensure that justice was done. The Ambassador accompanied by some embassy officials and Nigerian nationals went to the scene of the incident to ensure that justice is applied to the culprit and secure adequate compensation for the girl’s family. And by so doing averted what would have led to a show down between Nigeria nationals in and the Spanish government.

She is handling the police character report issue which has been a bane to Nigerians living in Spain, so as to alleviate the difficulties Nigerians go through to obtain the report.

On Jun 30, 2013 – Madrid Barajas Airport, I was pleased to hear Prof. Malachy Okwueze, who missed the Madrid – Lagos bound flight and it was the same day his visa expired. He expressed satisfaction on the positive response and assistance received on calling the embassy for help. He received a quick response from the embassy which helped to get his problem solved.

Early in the month of August, one self acclaimed Nigerian Bishop in Spain was deported by the Spanish police without due process. The embassy’s attention was drawn to the incident and it waded into the matter, demanding that the Spanish authority should repatriate him back to Spain. And the Spanish government complied and brought him back to Spain. This was the first of its kind in the history of Nigerians living abroad not just in Spain, for a Nigerian to be deported and the embassy intervened for his repatriation. That was a very commendable act as that would help instill a measure of respect before the Spanish authorities who may think that Nigerians are sheep without a shepherd. Passport fees and some consular charges have been reduced for the benefit of the Nigerian citizens in the kingdom of Spain within the period Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu piloted affairs at the embassy. This writer can now walk tall in the streets of Madrid and can boldly say “I am a Nigerian. Gracias to Her Excellency Bianca Ojukwu and her crop of aides at the embassy who can make things work and are making it work in Spain.

•Onuoha, author of The Road We Traveled wrote from Spain.