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| Bianca Ojukwu |
BIANCA LEAVES FOOTPRINTS IN SPAIN
By Uchendu Precious Onuoha - Spain
“Do not go where the path may lead,
go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” Ralph Waldo Emerson.
That
is truly Bianca’s case. Before she came to Spain as an ambassador, Spain held little or no appeal
to head of missions and diplomats. But today after her work, Spain has become a
hot cake, a beautiful bride and a delight for all would be ambassadors. It has
become one of the most sought after destination in the world desirable by all
the old and new ambassadors waiting for new diplomatic assignments and
postings. And whoever that would be coming after her, would have less to
accomplish but would really have much to do to sustain the structures she has
already put in place for the welfare of Nigerian citizens in the kingdom of
Spain.
Some people are born or groomed up to be more equal
than others. Not in the balanced principles of doctrine of humanity before Deity
and the law but in the significant imparts, visions they uphold, and
contributions they make in their life and time. Bianca, as ambassador was a
discovery, a revelation in the history of Nigerian ambassadors to Spain as none
has made an indelible mark and accomplishments more than she did. And her
footprints will always remain in the sand of time in the kingdom of Spain. She
served a multi-purpose role and character to Nigerians in Spain. She was the
Florence Nitingale the lady with lamp, saving lives. She was the mother Teresa,
giving hope to thousands of her compatriots. And the good shepherd who cared
for her flock.
During her three years of exciting and memorable stint
as ambassador, Bianca had answer to the needs of Nigerians in Spain. Through
her laudable activities Bianca’s presence and fame loomed all over Spain and
beyond, and she was like a sweet song in the lips of Nigerians, Africans and a
delight to the Spanish. She towered high above all other African ambassadors in
the kingdom of Spain. According to the Kenyan and Gambian ambassadors in Spain,
Bianca is not just a Nigerian ambassador but African ambassador, we are so
proud of her. That was even before she won the award as the best and most
outstanding African ambassador in Europe in 2014. Like the queen of Sheba, from
Austria, Holland, London, Germany and other parts of Europe, Nigerians trooped
in to herald Bianca’s magic wand in Spain. Engrossed in her job, day and night
did not make any difference to her as far as duty called.
It’s not the number of years that one occupies in a
position that counts, but the ones occupied how much was gained. Ambassador
Bianca Ojukwu’s three years were indeed gain for Nigerians in Spain. In what
way one may ask. But in many ways. I would start the chronicles of her feats in
Spain by making reference to the symbolic connotation of the veil of the
tabernacle during the history of Israel in the wilderness. The veil was a
barrier to make sure that man could not irreverently enter into God’s awesome
presence. A place no ordinary person could enter. So the presence of God
remained shielded from God’s own people. However Jesus death on the cross
changed that and the veil was thorn in half paving way for God’s presence to be
accessible to all His people. Bianca removed all barriers that made the embassy
inaccessible to Nigerians. And she made Nigerians who before dreaded to come to
the embassy because of the way they were treated, to realize that the embassy
is their last sanctuary and she said to them, come, we are here to serve you.
Among the things Bianca would be remembered for in Spain are,
She made Nigerians to obey the laws of the host
country and Spain in return to respect the rights of Nigerians in their midst.
She stopped the deportation of Nigerians by Spain
without proof of evidence of having certified all the due process binding the
two countries in that respect. In one occasion, she ordered a Spanish security
officer out of her office for asking her to sign a document for deportation of
some Nigerians. The officer who said that’s how they used to do that before was
dumb founded when she asked for the court order and proof of all other
applicable measures that must be fulfilled before that could be carried out.
In another occasion, on getting report about a
Nigerian citizen that was deported without the due process, after
investigations, she prevailed on the Spanish authorities to repatriate the
citizen back to Spain. A rare feat unheard of by any Nigerian mission anywhere.
She reduced the price of passport fee for Nigerians in
Spain.
She arranged for Nigerian police to come to Spain to
prepare police report, a requisite for obtaining Spanish residence permit
thereby alleviating the problems
Nigerians who do not have legitimate documents to travel to Nigeria may
encounter in that respect. Subsequent to that, to save Nigerians of the pains
of the police report, she made a strong case on the need for the Spanish
authority to issue a certificate of good conduct as an alternative for the
police report. A matter which is receiving favorable attention by the Spanish
government before her exit.
She rescued and recovered dozens of Nigerian children
whom their parents due to their economic down turn, involuntarily handed over
their siblings to the Spanish people for adoption. She said to them these are
Nigerian citizens we need them. And these children sometimes with their parents
were taken back to their families in Nigeria. Also she rescued dozens of
Nigerians who were wasting away there lifetime, living as destitute and have
lost hope in life. Like a mother who
cannot forget her suckling child, she recovered dozens of such Nigerian
citizens from the streets of Spain and sent them back to their families in
Nigeria for rehabilitation.
Bianca made it possible that in the event of
deportation of any Nigerian by the Spanish government, his properties and all
he has labored for was secured and handed over to him before he is taken back
to Nigeria.
She established an emergency rapid response team. A
crack squad of embassy staff who responded rapidly to cases of Nigerians in
dire need of attention and assistance in all parts of Spain. This squad visited
Nigerians in detention, prisons, and death incidents, among others and made
sure that they were not unjustly detained or their rights as citizens infringed
upon.
She visited instantly the spot of a murdered Nigerian
girl in Bilbao (Ada Otua) by a Spanish
Shaolin martial arts master. And she made the authorities concerned to realize
that the life of any Nigerian citizen is valued much and ensured that adequate
compensation was given to the victim’s family and punishment given to the
culprit according to the law.
She renovated the Nigerian embassy and chancery
buildings and made them befitting structures comfortable for the citizens staff
and diplomats alike.
Bianca reached out to Nigerians in Spain by holding
town hall meetings where she had interactive sessions addressing their problems
and educating them to make the best use of opportunies offered by the host
country to improve their lives and to always remember that Nigeria is their
home. Time and space will fail me to continue to highlight on the numerous
giant strides and feats the dynamic ambassador accomplished in Spain.
The news about Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu‘s exit was
like sunset at dawn to Nigerians in Spain. There was gloom all over their
countenances. Many wished that it was a dream not comes true. Who else would do
for us what Madam has done for us some asked? She was so nice. No doubt,
Nigerians in Spain would really miss her while her footprints will ever remain
in the sand of time.
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