The Folio Media Group, owners of The Daily Times of Nigeria, on Tuesday, January 3, 2017, appointed Dr. May Ikeora, as the Executive Director of Miss Nigeria Organisation.
Ikeora’s appointment was contained in a statement, signed by Mr. Fidelis Anosike, the Founder and Chairman of Folio Communication Limited.
Ikeora, is an academic researcher, an ex-beauty queen-cum entrepreneur. She was the first Nigerian to win Miss ECOWAS, held in Cape Verde, in 2003.
Her interest in human rights and peace building, led her to become a goodwill Ambassador for ECOWAS, during which she toured all the West Africa countries on peace missions.
Ikeora has leveraged on the rare exprience she garnered during her reign, to pursue a career in International Humanitarian Law.
She moved to the United Kingdom(UK) eleven years ago, where she successfully obtained a Masters degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies; and later capped her robust acacdemic pursuit with a PhD in Law.
She had worked across Africa and Europe, as a specialist in Human Rights, Environment, Gender and Peacebuilding; consulting for organisations like, the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU); and the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Institute.
Following her enormous interest in global peace, Ikeora has also received numerous awards with regards to her work within the African Diaspora communities in the UK; and recognised by the House of Lords in the UK Houses of Parliament.
As an academic, she has to her credit, numerous published articles in her field.
As an entrepreneur, Ikeora founded an organic & natural cosmetics company, called, L’Avyanna Skin Naturals, which is based in the UK and Nigeria. It is her aim to make this business one of the best in Africa; and exporting it to other parts of the world.
Combining her experiences in beauty, she has continued the advocacy for the empowerment of young African women (through her Raising Girls’ Project), as well as, improve the existing ethics in the beauty industry through her campaign: “My Colour My Heritage.”
Her appointment, as the Executive Director of the Miss Nigeria Organisation, followed her involvement in successfully advancing the platform towards empowering women beyond beauty in the 2016 Miss Nigeria event.
As a former queen, academic and entrepreneur, Ikeora understands what it takes to make Miss Nigeria a consistent, sustainable and intellectual platform that will change the face of pageantry for the betterment of young women in Nigeria.
Her experience in sustainable environment will be most useful in driving the Green-Girl Project – A Miss Nigeria initiative aimed at increasing the voices of young women in the discourse of environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
As Executive Director, Ikeora is expected to commit her wealth of experience in implementing Miss Nigeria Organisation’s five-year strategic plan of empowering 5,000 young women in sustainable environmental development.
Folio Media Group reports that her appointment remains part of sustained effort to leverage Miss Nigeria pageant, one of the biggest, annual, glamorous, fashion, beauty, lifestlye and entertainment shows.
The other ancillary benefits of her appointment include, infusion of intellectual content and empowerment of young women beyond beauty.
Meanwhile, Miss Nigeria Organisation commended all partners, sponsors and stakeholders, who contributed immensely toward the successful hosting of the 40th edition of the Miss Nigeria in 2016.
An elated Ikeora said,“ Our commitment is that the 41st edition of the Miss Nigeria pageant would further situate Nigeria positively in the international entertainment space.”
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