From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Last weekend, Owerri metropolis was agog with fanfare as Imo State Government,(IMSG), through the State Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture played special host to beauty with brain pageants from several African countries including Nigeria.
Barr. Jerry Egemba, the State Commissioner overseeing the Ministry, customarily received them in his artistically beautified and tastily furnished office at the State Secretariat, along Port Harcourt Road before hosting them with pomp and pageantry at the State Arts Exhibition Center, Mbari along lkenegbu, Owerri.
The pageants demonstrated high since of excitement and happiness for the classy hospitality accorded to them by the Commissioner and his team as they with excitements inspected the State’s Arts and sculptural Gallery, Mbari which is part of the Ministry’s world class tourism sites.
Some of the exceptional Pageants are ; Anene A. Malvin(Nigeria), Rohey Chan (Gambia),Maevellyn Brempomaah(Ghana), Angel Robisinge(Uganda),Crown Stephanie(Liberia),Bella Camara (Guinea), Luciana Natasha (Zambia), among others as they came under the auspicious of Queen the Cultural Pageants into the State for their continental fashion parade grand finale.
Egemba who thanked God for their choice of the Eastern Heartland State as part of their pilot’s States visit also expressed satisfaction for their courage and comportment.
He pointed out that he feels gladdened in his heart to welcome them into the state,noting that he is always excited seeing youths living off their talents.
The Commissioner assured them that it is part of the activities of his ministry to identify, recognize, encourage and isolate worthy talents from various levels and classes with an enabling environment for them to showcase their talents to the national and global communities.
According to him, “this is why we always support anyone sincerely projecting such vision that showcase African talents and promotes our cultural values, just like this pageantry body, Cultural Queens pageantry is doing.
“The entertainment industry presents itself as a chronic relieve endowment from God to aid people enjoy their lives, and live long. Some aspects of culture like maiden dance, wrestling, moonlight festivities among others were what made our forefathers and ancestors live longer, but it is disheartening that some of these cultural heritages are no longer imbibed ” he decried.
The Commissioner enjoined Nigerians on the absolute need for them to return back and embrace their cultural values and play their part in growing the entertainment industry.
“We should also learn to be proud to be called African just like these Pageants from diverse African countries that are endowed with skills, intelligence and beauty. African women are valuable beauties and can make positive changes if they believe themselves, given the enabling opportunities and environment”.
He advised Imo youths on the need to harness and showcase their God given talents, pointing out that the State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma is passionate about promoting of such naturally endowed talents.
Egemba assured the Co-ordinator of the pageantry group whom he said is an illustrious son of the State, of the state government’s willingness to support in aiding them achieve their aims and objectives of grooming young talents that would make African continent proud.
Also speaking, the spokes person of the pageantry group, Sophia Uchenna Ogbu expressed happiness how she and her team were welcomed by the State Commissioner, noting that the Pageants from various African countries have come into the State as part of their preparations for the grand finale of their pageantry competition.
Ogbu enumerated some of the core values of their group to include promotion of African culture, peaceful coexistence and unity among African ladies
She reiterated the need for Nigerians to harness and promote their good cultural and traditional heritages using beauty pageantry as a climax for the cultural bond of attention.
“Enlightening African ladies between the ages of 17-26 years across the globe, that African women are valuable, beautiful and can make a positive change if they believe in themselves, to create awareness and fight against humiliation against African women such as female genital mutilation, rape, girl child molestation and domestic violence,” Ogbu asserted.
The people were equally thrilled with the famous Omenimo Cultural Dance Troupe as eminent personalities that graced the historic occasion includes; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sir TUC Okonkwo, Director Imo state Council of Arts and Culture Eze-elect Jude Ekeh, Director Culture and Hospitality in the Ministry, Mrs Obiageli Amaefule.
