Osoba, Amuka-Pemu, others grace 2017 Miss Nigeria
Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, captains of industry, and the Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka-Pemu and other dignitaries on Thursday, graced the 2017 Miss Nigeria contest at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island Lagos.
Top personalities including former Delta State Governor James Ibori, Erelu Abiola Dosumu and Managing Director, AIM group, Amin Mussalli, also attended the event.
Important personalities, socialites, and celebrities amongst others were also treated to a quality show during the historical occasion.
The event which was hosted by the Chairman of Folio Media Group/ Publisher of The Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike and members of the Miss Nigeria Organisation, is the 41st edition of the contest which aims to showcase positive attributes of Nigerian women beyond beauty and physical appearance.
It was a night of glimpse of happiness and start-studded event as the event kicked off on very high note as celebrities strut the red carpet in their fabulous outfits.
With Comedian Bovi taking centre stage, he assured guests of brilliant performances all through the night.
Giving his view of the platform, Osoba disclosed that the Miss Nigeria Pageant is a foremost and oldest beauty pageant in Nigeria which celebrate positive attributes of Nigerian women beyond beauty and physical appearance.
In this welcome address, Anosike reiterated the fact that the Miss Nigeria Platform was created solely for empowerment purpose, saying that the platform would continue to build young, diligent queen for the world.
The final contestants, 37 in all, thrilled the attendees with varying performances at the end of which one of them would emerge as winner. The new queen would walk home with a brand new car, cash prize, a year accommodation and other luxury packages.
Leading the trail of judges at the contest was Nollywood screen diva and Philanthropist, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde alongside brilliant personalities that included Chioma Ude, Adebola Williams, Ishaya Bako, Adesua Wellington, Jumoke Adenowo, Joke Silva, Enyinna Nwigwe, Osepiribo Ben-Willie, Tara Fela-Durotoye, Noble Igwe, Julie Donli, Odio Oseni, Yemi Keri, Mariam Mohammed, and Ozinna Anumudu amongst others.
The event had TV Personality/Big Brother Naija Host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Bovi, Kemi Lala-Akindoju and Olive Emodi, as comperes. Legendary 2Baba alongside other musicians that included Mayorkun, and Jennifer Eliogu amongst others thrilled the guets with various performances.
Dignitaries who attended the event commended the doggedness of the Publisher of The Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, in the sustenance of the foremost beauty pageant in the country, adding that the platform had produced winners who went on to be role models for young women.
The event was also used to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the existence of the Miss Nigeria brand, which had played host to past winners from the platform.
The first edition of Miss Nigeria was held in 1957 where the former Miss Grace Oyelude, a northerner from the present Kogi State by origin and by birth from old Kano State, represented the state and emerged as the overall winner winning four cotton dresses and 200 pounds amongst others.
The Miss Nigeria 2017 was sponsored by NAPTIP, Lasena Water, Sari Signature, House of Tara, Heritage Bank, Studio 24, Eko Hotel, Wazobia FM, Power House, GAC Motors, Ciniron, Pedini, EbonylifeTV and New Crystal Communication Ltd.
As part of the improvement on the beauty pageant for this year, whoever emerges as queen will be inducted as brand ambassador against human trafficking for the next five years, courtesy of NAPTIP, one of the sponsors of the event.
With all the contestants considered as winners, the organizers have also created a 5% volume share of Folio Media Group to contestants for empowerment purpose.
The 2017 edition of the event was aired live on Wazobia TV.
Mutiat Alli
