Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the 2019 gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Monday evening, hosted the newly crowned Miss Oyo, Princess Adedoja Adeyemi and her runners-up in a grand reception.
The dinner, held at Adelabu’s luxurious Best Western Plus Hotel, Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan, was in fulfilment of his promises to encourage winner of the beauty pageant and the two runners-up with cash prizes.
Having been impressed by the contestants’ brilliance and conducts and the beauty pageant itself however, Adelabu extended the cash gifts to the other four finalists of the contest.
While the winner went home with N250,000, the first runner-up was given the sum of N150,000. The second runner-up got N100,000, and the third runner-up N50,000. Miss Photogenic, Miss Elegant, Miss Intellect all went home with N50,000 each. This is aside the two nights free accommodation for all the seven finalists.
Adelabu, after presenting the checks, charged the new beauty queen and her colleagues to think beyond beauty and always be passionate and committed in whatever they do. Particularly the winner of the contest, whose year of reign as queen must also touch lives.
“The purpose of this get together is just a fulfilment of the pledge I made at the event and also to add colour to Miss Oyo beauty pageant. As far as I am concerned, I am not just in anything I see outside. Even in things I do, every day I challenge the status quo. I am never satisfied with any particular standard, no matter how qualitative the standard appears to people. I always believe there must be room for improvement.”
In her closing remarks, Princess Adedoja, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the organisers of the beauty pageant for the life-changing opportunity and also used the occasion to appreciate Chief Adelabu for his commitment to community development.
“This is not by anybody’s power but pure grace and luck. I want to thank Chief Adebayo Adelabu so much. I must confess that you won my heart today. It is not because of the money you gave me. But because of the fact that this shows your dedication to the development of your community, and also your support towards Miss Oyo beauty pageant. We are all grateful and thankful for the gifts and your support,” the beauty queen said.
At the dinner were the likes of the head of Gotham City Network, the organisers of the pageant, Mayor Isaac Brown; Chairman and CEO of Stone Cafe, Otunba Segun Olalere; Chairman, Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Ademola Babalola; Arewa House of Culture boss, Princess Folashade Adeyemi; popular TV presenter and anchor, Princess Olubunmi Labiyi, and others.
Princess Adedoja Adeyemi, the 24-year-old Alaafin’s daughter and master’s degree student at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, defeated other contestants who represented the the 14 federal constituencies in the state, to clinch the Miss Oyo seat.
The annual beauty pageant, which took place inside the Felicia Hall at Jogor Events Center, Obafemi Awolowo Road (formerly Liberty Road), Ibadan, saw Adedoja, a graduate of the Osun State University, UNIOSUN, going home with a Toyota Camry car donated by Ilaji Hotels and Resort boss, Chief Dotun Sanusi and other prizes.
Packaged by Dare Raji
