Miss Nigeria: The Past, Present and the Future

Times have changed since her emergence as the first Miss Nigeria beauty queen. That was over 58 years ago. Watching the beauty queens parade in their different apparels for the night was like a flashback for Atinuke Oyelude to that fateful day in Lagos Island Club where she was crowned Miss Nigeria. At the time, she was an employee with the UAC group. With the cash prize of £200, Atinuke sponsored herself to England where she studied nursing.

Now, it's 2015 and she's witnessing the crowning of another beauty queen. They were probably lucky to be clothed by different designers, unlike her time where they were limited to photos and only make an appearance in the finale. Indeed, the beauty pageant has metamorphosed since its inception despite the few breaks. The last contest was held in 2013 where Ezinne Akudo was crowned the winner. Organised by the Daily Times Group, the beauty pageant was initiated to showcase the positive attributes of Nigerian women.

At inception, the beauty queens were granted scholarships in universities and given international platforms. But recently, due to management challenges, the pageant no longer sponsors its queens to international pageants but gives them an opportunity to work with charities.

At the grand ball of the oriental hotel victoria Island, Lagos, last weekend where the finale held, tension was high, particularly for the last three contestants. Out of the 66 that applied, they were lucky to remain the final three standing, yet that did not calm their nerves, particularly for the Cross River State representative, Pamela Peter-Vigboro  Lessi when they announced there was a tie. "I was really nervous. My heart was beating really fast. I really wanted to win."

But by the time Kehinde Itunu Adeyemi, representing Jigawa State and Asiana Mary of Oyo State were announced the  first and second runners-up respectively, Lessi knew that she did  not need to pray too hard. She was already the winner.

The Computer Science graduate of the University of Port Harcourt was a runner-up in the Miss Niger Delta pageantry in 2013. Winning the crown according to the new queen was more than her looks.  "I think that my constant attitude of keeping a positive mind set did it. I refused to think of anything fearful or negative."

Lessi was awarded the grand prize of N3 million cash, a brand new Kia Rio car, six-months skill acquisition programme in any institution of her choice, a year serviced apartment, and an all-expense paid trip abroad.

Being a beauty queen requires a lot from the head wearing the crown. Lessi is however ready for the journey ahead. She intends to embark on a pet project centred around value re-orientation and capacity building for young Nigeria women.

Apart from the prize from the organisers, Air Peace airline and the Foundation of Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria, FEHN, revealed recently that  they will spend over N200 million on the training of newly-crowned Miss Nigeria, and others in non-violence and conflict management at the Emory University, Martin Luther King Centre, Atlanta, USA. The chairman of FEHN Allen Onyema said the training will equip Lessi and others to benefit from the three-tier training skills in resolving conflict-related issues, including insurgency and ethnic agitation.

However the new queen was not the only one rewarded for the night.  82 year-old Oyelude also smiled home with a brand new Peugeot 601 saloon car.

Daily Times has also assured the public that the era of breaks in the contest are over. With Bank of Investment throwing its weight behind it, the future of Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant is looking very bright.

Source: This Day