Bianca Onoh
Encyclopedia
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu is a Nigerian businesswoman, former lawyer, and government official, recently appointed as Nigeria's Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs .
governor Christian Onoh
, Odumegwu-Ojukwu was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
pageant in 1988, but reigned for most of 1989. She represented her country in Miss Universe
, and would later win Miss Intercontinental
1989,. The same year she was named Miss Congeniality at the now defunct Miss Charm International in Russia where she was also a semi-finalist. However, Odumegwu-Ojukwu has since said in an interview she had only agreed to take part in pageants after being persuaded by her sister Lilian, and was not prepared for the publicity.
In 1989, it was revealed that she was dating former Biafra
n president and Ikemba of Nnewi
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
, a childhood friend of her father who is said to have been her godfather
at her christening
and was over thirty years her senior. Their controversial romance was a national talking point in the early nineties,
and reports had suggested that she was dethroned after her romance was exposed, as MBGN winners are discouraged from having serious relationships during their tenure. The pressure of being in the public eye became unbearable, and she decided to step down. Her main concern, she stated, was completing her university
education. She was also disowned by her father, although he is said to have forgiven her before his death in 2009.
business Bianca Blend in Enugu
, and her interior decorating outfit Nourobella. Although she had stated in interviews her disdain for modelling in the past, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has fronted an advertising campaign for her products. She is in charge of the non-government organisation Hope House Trust, centered towards rehabilitating juvenile offenders in Enugu.
In 2011, she was appointed Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs by president Goodluck Jonathan.
graduate
of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Odumegwu-Ojukwu is now married to the Ikemba, and the couple have children together. Of her marriage, she admits that while she is happy to have found her older husband, she would not encourage her daughter to marry the same way.
Pageants
The daughter of former AnambraAnambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...
governor Christian Onoh
Christian Onoh
Christian Onoh, popularly known as CC Onoh, was a Nigerian businessman and lawyer who became governor of Anambra State in 1983 at the end of the Nigerian Second Republic.. He was also the father in law to Colonel Ojukwu....
, Odumegwu-Ojukwu was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant originally began as Miss Universe Nigeria in 1983, and was created by Silverbird Group. It was later re-named Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 1986. Winners represent Nigeria in Miss World and, until recently, Miss Universe – currently, only the...
pageant in 1988, but reigned for most of 1989. She represented her country in Miss Universe
Miss Universe 1989
Miss Universe 1989, the 38th Miss Universe pageant was held at Fiesta Americana Condesa Hotel, Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico on May 23, 1989. Angela Visser of Holland was crowned as Miss Universe 1989. Seventy-six contestants competed for the crown....
, and would later win Miss Intercontinental
Miss Intercontinental Pageant
Miss Intercontinental is an annual international beauty contest run by the World Beauty Organization that is located in "Panama City, Panama". The contest was founded in 1973, in Aruba. The current Miss Intercontinental is Jessica Hartman, from United States...
1989,. The same year she was named Miss Congeniality at the now defunct Miss Charm International in Russia where she was also a semi-finalist. However, Odumegwu-Ojukwu has since said in an interview she had only agreed to take part in pageants after being persuaded by her sister Lilian, and was not prepared for the publicity.
In 1989, it was revealed that she was dating former Biafra
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a secessionist state in south-eastern Nigeria that existed from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970, taking its name from the Bight of Biafra . The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people who led the secession due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious...
n president and Ikemba of Nnewi
Nnewi
Nnewi is the second largest city in Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria. Nnewi as a metropolitan city encompasses two local government areas, Nnewi North and Nnewi South; Nnewi North is commonly referred to as Nnewi central, and comprises four autonomous quarters: Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and...
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was a Nigerian military officer and politician.Ojukwu served as the military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966, the leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 and a leading Nigerian politician from 1983 to 2011, when he died, aged...
, a childhood friend of her father who is said to have been her godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
at her christening
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
and was over thirty years her senior. Their controversial romance was a national talking point in the early nineties,
and reports had suggested that she was dethroned after her romance was exposed, as MBGN winners are discouraged from having serious relationships during their tenure. The pressure of being in the public eye became unbearable, and she decided to step down. Her main concern, she stated, was completing her university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
education. She was also disowned by her father, although he is said to have forgiven her before his death in 2009.
Post Pageant
After graduating from Law School, Odumegwu-Ojukwu briefly practised the profession before quitting, and now divides her time between her home, her cosmeticsCosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
business Bianca Blend in Enugu
Enugu
Enugu is the capital of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in the southeastern area of Nigeria and is largely populated by members of the Igbo ethnic group. The city has a population of 722,664 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. The name Enugu is derived from the two Igbo words Enu Ugwu...
, and her interior decorating outfit Nourobella. Although she had stated in interviews her disdain for modelling in the past, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has fronted an advertising campaign for her products. She is in charge of the non-government organisation Hope House Trust, centered towards rehabilitating juvenile offenders in Enugu.
In 2011, she was appointed Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs by president Goodluck Jonathan.
Personal life
A LawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
graduate
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Odumegwu-Ojukwu is now married to the Ikemba, and the couple have children together. Of her marriage, she admits that while she is happy to have found her older husband, she would not encourage her daughter to marry the same way.