•What She Told City People 20 Yrs Ago
Her name is a household name in Nigeria. By virtue of her marriage to the Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, she is known all over the country, as the beautiful lady behind the warlord. On account of her smashing looks, Bianca’s name has become a synonym for beauty. It all stems from the fact that this light-skinned lady has a wonderful face that looks like something sculptured. She is also blessed with good skin that glows. It is the combination of her good look and mind-blowing physique that gives her this heavenly look that had attracted to her a lot of men in her younger days. It was also her looks that made her husband go weak at the knees when he first set his eyes on her, years back Bianca who is a former Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria got married to Ojukwu seven years ago, on 12th November 1994 at a well-attended ceremony.
Since getting married to the Eze Ndigbo, she has been taking care of the home front, entertaining endless guests and delegations, and doing, as she puts it, “a little business.” The union has been blessed with a set of two years and four months old twins, Chineme Lorraine and Louis Phillippe Afamefuna, a girl and a boy respectively, and a 2-year-old Nwachukwu Jordan, another boy, who was named Jordan, in honour of late King Hussein of Jordan, a leader much admired by Mrs. Ojukwu.
Bianca’s business includes the importation of a wide variety of beauty-care concentrates from abroad, as well as “activating” and “packaging” them here. The complete range-all 26 of them-is called the Bianca Blend range of beauty products and are also distributed within Nigeria and along the West Coast. She says her business is doing just fine. The former beauty queen also runs the Skin and Beauty Clinic, which offers customized skin and beauty care, a gym, a massage room and other services to about 700 regular clients.
This multi-talented lady is also into Interior decoration. She developed this flair from her stint in England since the age of 12, till about 1991 when she came back home to graduate from the UNEC Law School in 1992. Abroad, she had schooled at the Ackworth School, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, and got her ‘A’ levels at St. Andrew’s College, Cambridge, as well Cambridge Tutorial College. She has also studied at the London Institute of Beauty Culture and the Elsa Model Centre. Since getting married, she says, life has been “one whirlwind of activity.” According to Bianca, “there’s always something going on”. Traveling features prominently in her itinerary and a lot of entertaining visitors, delegations, and relations take place.
The former beauty Queen, who could still win any such contest today, and who is the daughter of maverick politician and ex-governor of old Anambra State, Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh, has the “Onwa Zulu Uwa” title from Owerri; Anyanwu Ututu from Isiagu; one title from Olokoro Umuahia; and is the Iyom of Igboland. Below are excerpts of the interview.
Tell us about your life and world as Mrs. Ojukwu. How has it been?
Friendly, quite hectic. It’s been a roller-coaster. There’s always something going on. I have to entertain a lot. There’s always something going on.
Overwhelmingly, the Igbos and the Nnewi people, in particular, have showed me boundless love. When I go to visit, I hardly buy any food. The people bring all sorts of things-yams, and so on-to me. They pamper me. I consider myself lucky to have people who feel such affection for me. It’s wonderful. I can’t imagine being happier than I am!
How would you describe the Ikemba Nnewi?
Oh, he’s just too affectionate, warm, and compassionate. A lot of people think he’s a roaring lion, which he can be (laughs), but he’s been my Prince in shining armor. I can’t think of any reasonable request that he’s refused me. If I am here in the next life, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather be married to.
Your legendary beauty seems to be on the increase if that is indeed possible. What is the secret?
Well, happiness and fulfillment. Once you are happy and fulfilled. It shows. You’re either happy or not. Why shouldn’t I be? When you’ve realised most of your dreams, you’re happy. And it shows”.
Describe one day in the life of Bianca Ojukwu?
I wake up between 7-7.30am. I say my prayers, and get dressed for the day. Sometimes, about twice a week, I take a long walk for about an hour early in the morning. The early morning air is so fresh and bracing because most times, I’ve driven around in a car. So, it’s a great exercise for me.
Then, I do a little business. I distribute the Bianca Blend range of beauty products. I’m also into interior decoration.
This place (The Skin and Beauty Clinic) opens between 12-4 pm and the other staff come around then. I come here by 4 pm and stay till 7 pm, having consultations with clients.
It seems you also studied to be a beautician. Where and when? Tell us about your products.
Yes, I did. I studied at the Elsa Model Centre in 1989 and the London Institute of Beauty Culture in 1996.
Well, we make and market 26 products like toners, facial wash powder, glycolic, burn treatment creams, and much more. They come in concentrated form from abroad but we “activate” and package them here.
Who makes your clothes?
Anyone, I buy everywhere I see the clothes I like. Sometimes I ask someone I like their clothes where they got them and later on, I could go there too. I’m not fussy. For casuals, i like clothes by Escade, St. John, Condici, Mary McFadden, and Donna Karan. For evening wear, it depends on the occasion.
Hats by Phillip Somerville are my favourite. He makes hats for Ascot and for Queen Elizabeth and the Queen’s mother. His hats look striking.
You run the Skin and Beauty Clinic, among other concerns. What are its unique features and how’s business?
Well, it’s like a Spa. We run the full range here. This is the only clinic that has its own range of customised skin products, a massage-room, a Gym, a hair salon etc. We occupy about seven rooms here.
We’ve succeeded in keeping every single one of our 700-plus clients. We don’t advertise much and we totally advise on and treat skin problems. We also operate anti-age treatment and total skincare. Sometimes we have Post-Orthopaedic referrals, especially for burns and we actually have more equipment than most places abroad. In fact, a lot of our stuff is still in their crates, unpacked.
Why did your dad kick against your union with the Ikemba Nnewi?
Well, up till that time I had obeyed my father without question. That was the first time I would actually disobey him. He was furious. Right now, though, things are better off. To a large extent, he’s eased off now. I go with the kids to visit him at least once a week and we spend some time.
What are your future plans and expectations?
Right now, I’ve learned to put things in their proper perspective. For instance, money when you’re grown up within so much affluence, money ceases to be the kick in life. My plans and expectations are what I already have; a happy home, a loving husband, 3 wonderful kids. I’m surrounded by people who have and show a lot of affection for me.
Our marriage has been very successful, considering that we’ve been together for 11 years. It’s a long time. People gave us no time to last. Someone once said that success is getting what you want, while happiness is wanting what you get. I think I’ve always wanted what I’ve got.
