Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has expressed deep emotion and gratitude following her visit to the Nigerian Embassy in Spain—a decade after she served as the country’s Ambassador to the Mission.

 

In a heartfelt message shared with the public, Ojukwu described the visit as an “incredibly heartwarming welcome,” marking her first time stepping into the Embassy since leaving her diplomatic post ten years ago.

 

“This time, I visited the Mission as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,” she said. “It was delightful to step into my old office, sit on the same chair where I spent endless hours over several years on national duty, re-unite with old friends, see familiar and new faces, as well as commend the dedicated and hardworking officers of the Embassy.”

 

Ojukwu took a moment to acknowledge the “sad absence” of one of the Mission’s most dedicated staff members, the late Godwin Ehiegenen, whose memory she honored with heartfelt words: “Only God can possibly reward you for us all.”

 

She also commended the continued upkeep of the Embassy structure and interior, which were renovated during her tenure as Ambassador. “It’s wonderful to see that so many years afterward, the structure and interior we put in place during our massive renovation project remains one of the best maintained. Our efforts have not been in vain,” she added, extending appreciation to the current officers and staff, including Mr. Ladislao, Julius, and Jobe.

In a delightful twist to her official visit, Ojukwu also shared her excitement about meeting legendary American R&B band SHALAMAR, as she attended a surprise birthday celebration for the group’s lead vocalist, Howard Hewett. The event was hosted by charismatic Nigerian senator, Sen. Bashir Lado Mohammed.

 

Describing the band as one of her favorites, Ojukwu reminisced on SHALAMAR’s impact on 1980s music and dance culture. “The name Shalamar became synonymous with the contemporary sound of catchy feel-good dance music,” she wrote.

 

She praised the trio—Howard Hewett, Jeffrey Daniel, and Jody Watley—for their global hits including “The Second Time Around,” “Make That Move,” and the dance floor classic “A Night To Remember.”

 

Ojukwu also highlighted Jeffrey Daniel’s historic moonwalk performance on BBC’s Top of the Pops, which captivated global audiences and even inspired Michael Jackson, who later co-choreographed videos like “Smooth Criminal” and “Bad” with Daniel.

 

With excitement in the air, she teased the band’s upcoming live performance at the International Conference Center, promising, “Tonight’s gonna be one night to remember.”

 

The visit marks a powerful intersection of diplomatic legacy, personal reflection, and cultural celebration—further cementing Bianca Ojukwu’s unique role as both a stateswoman and cultural enthusiast.