#Celebrating Bianca Ojukwu: A Formidable Force in African Politics

There’s something monumentally poetic about a woman setting off to conquer the world of politics – a domain traditionally ruled by men. But today, we don’t just cheer for any woman stepping into this arena. We celebrate a formidable entity, a warrior queen, an enchantress of elegance and grace, navigating the labyrinth of power, influence, and politics. We’re talking about Bianca Ojukwu – the delectable, hard-hitting, trailblazing grand dame of African politics.

Bianca Ojukwu stands tall as the uncontested epitome of enduring grace and intellectual prowess. A ravishing figure of charisma and charm, she also cuts an imposing figure in the sphere of politics. This is not your run-of-the-mill opinion maker, but an authentic maverick, who breaks barriers while facing every challenge with a spicy dash of panache.

Born with a silver scepter in her hand, and royalty in her veins, Bianca made history as the first black African to win the Miss Intercontinental title. But don’t let her alluring beauty overshadow the steel within. This woman took the reins of a notoriously man’s world, the cut-throat world of politics, and subverted presumptions left, right, and center.

We could heap praise on her diplomatic prowess, bestowed upon her during her tenure as Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain. We could talk about her time serving as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). But, Bianca’s tremendous accomplishments stretch far beyond the confines of diplomacy and professional duty.

Bianca Ojukwu weaves an intricate watermark of the potential of a woman’s audacious journey. She found love, weathered storms, and stood firm in the face of personal and political trials. She’s an epitome of quiet resilience and a testament to the indomitable spirit of African womanhood.

Never one to just talk the talk, Bianca Ojukwu walks the walk. Fierce as a panther, she strode into the male-dominated Nigerian political landscape, fearlessly advocating on behalf of marginalised groups. Her invaluable contribution to the strengthening of women’s representation in politics is notable. Still, she always goes about it in a manner that’s effortlessly poised, endlessly stylish – the epitome of fierce femininity, resonating powerfully with the deepest ethos of Africa.

As we celebrate Bianca Ojukwu, we celebrate a woman who embodies not just power and influence but also grace and profound empathy. A woman who dared to defy the odds and upset the status quo. A woman whose relentless passion and resilience continue to inspire scores of women across Africa and beyond.

For all the young women out there looking for a role model: here she is. Bianca Ojukwu – fierce, formidable, compassionate, and oh-so-elegantly unapologetic. She’s proof that grace and power can indeed make a sumptuous cocktail. She is a testament to the fact that a woman can carve her own path in the world, trailing a blaze that will light the way for thousands to follow.

And to our beautiful, formidable Bianca Ojukwu – here’s raising a toast to you, a fiery comet blazing across the African sky, leaving a trail of stirred dust and awed spectators in your wake. You, madam, are a modern-day queen. Keep reigning, keep shining, keep inspiring.

In Biancas words

 The day before I left London for Nigeria, I reflected on a lot of stuff, mostly about why the thought of returning home is usually cause for anxiety pangs…..

It’s back to power and water shortages, insecurity, insensitive Medicare, ‘dog eat dog’ mentality and ‘no brother for jungle’ syndrome that folks inflict on each other but worst of all, dealing with the sad fact that most of us in the south East have now become psychologically displaced. Even the thought of just hopping down to the village fills one with fear and dread, the routine funeral pitstops from town to town have become a thing of the past and the habitual visits to loved and aged ones in the village have become few and far between.
Our beloved villages have now become ghost towns as we scramble to relocate our loved ones to relative safety in the cities,wrenching them away from their familiar environments and communal friends to the loneliness of city life.
Yes…many of us might not be in IDP(internally displaced camps)today but have now become psychologically displaced, dislocated and estranged from our communities due to insecurity and the brutal killings in the villages.

So, when one gets ready to return to this theatre of conflict after a relaxing, pleasant and extended stay outside our shores, it’s only natural to reminisce about ‘the country we never had’.
But East, West, Home remains best. Even when one is privileged to have homes in several countries around the world, A na agbaga kwanu ebe oné? Home is where the heart is.

Stunning with brains a rare find

Dad banned her from coming home after she won the contest

Ojukwu’s demise was traumatic for Bianca

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For all the young women out there looking for a role model: here she is. Bianca Ojukwu – fierce, formidable, compassionate, and oh-so-elegantly unapologetic. She's proof that grace and power can indeed make a sumptuous cocktail.

Still ever such a diva

Her daughter Chi looking just as gorgeous as Mum

Ben Murray Bruce with Bianca at the pageant

Colorful life indeed

Bianca Ojukwu, former beauty queen, has recounted how her late father demanded an “impossible bride price” from Odumegwu Ojukwu,

The diplomat-cum-entrepreneur had recently taken to her social media page to mark the 20th year since after she was married to the late Igbo leader. In a Facebook post, she said her dad had asked Ojukwu to pay 100 pre-independence copper coins, an old currency, that prompted the former Biafran president to dispatch men across the country to search for them before their eventual marriage in 2001. “What a day it was, and full of drama! The bride price was a daunting factor. My father, Chief CC Onoh gave his daughter’s suitor, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu a seemingly impossible task in this respect,” she wrote. He demanded a bride price of 100 pre-independence copper coins (those old coins with a hole in the middle) and where could anyone readily find these extremely rare coins, and in such quantity in 2001? “And so people were dispatched to various parts of the country in search of the old coins. It cost so much more to source the coins than they were actually worth. Years later, when I asked my father what informed his request.” Bianca added that her dad revealed years later that he made the unusual request to teach Ojukwu to value women. He laughed and told me, ‘I had to make it difficult for him. If it were purely a matter of paying money, being a man of great means, he would have been prepared to pay any amount, no matter how huge, as bride price,” she added. “That would have been easy. But in the course of your marriage, anytime he makes you upset and you threaten to head back home to us, he will remember the difficulty in procuring your bride price!’ Vintage Aninefungwu! “20 years ago to this day, and I am simply awed by my father’s wisdom. I am extremely privileged to have lived under the shadow of these two great men, valiant men who rode the thunder and quelled the storm.” On November 26, 2011, Ojukwu died in the United Kingdom after a brief illness. The Nigerian army gave him the highest military accolade and conducted a funeral parade for him in Abuja the day his body was flown back from London.

Caroline Onoh

Christian Onoh

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