Preparations are in top gear as Ekiti State is set to host the 2022 Miss Nigeria beauty pageant on 1st October, 2022.
The Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism Professor Rasaki Ojo Bakare made this known while addressing audience at the ‘Sunday-Sunday’ bi-monthly talent variety show in Ado Ekiti.
The Commissioner, while appreciating the residents of Ekiti for finding time to attend the family-friendly show every fortnight, revealed that Ekiti State would be hosting the Miss Nigeria Beauty pageant for the first time in the history of the contest which has always been held in Lagos State.
Bakare , however echoed that getting the tickets through online goes for #10, 000 but using the Sunday-Sunday show platform for acquiring the tickets goes with 50% reduction, thereby urging the people to go round to propagate the information as this would illuminate the entertainment world in Ekiti, promote tourism potentials and as well boost the internally generated revenue of the state.
In a separate interview, the contestant for the beauty queen from Ekiti State, Miss. Deborah Adebowale, a native of Efon Alaaye, revealed that her intentions if emerged as Miss Nigeria at October competition is to bring out the beautiful heritage of Ekiti culture and sensitize the people to promote the cultural gifts of Ekiti land.
The 26 years old contestant further explained that she bears the intention to train 36 children and youths in some selected states across Nigeria to acquire vocations rather than depending solely on academic certificates, if emerged as the winner of the contest, adding that she will be training a minimum of 3 people per state during the period of her Miss Nigeria before the mantle falls on her successor at the expiration of her tenure.
Deborah who studies Theater Arts in Ekiti State University, shared her aspiration to become a Director of numerous projects, and also revealed that she got the information about the contest through a costumier, Mrs. Bade Afuye and made up her mind to try something new.
Miss Deborah revealed that she was excited to have emerged as Miss Ekiti in the course of the contest which qualified her for the next stage of Miss Nigeria having acquired numerous online votes, she, however, solicited more support from Ekiti people to enable her emerge the overall winner of the contest.
In the same vein, Mrs. Toyin Bade Afuye, a native of Ikere Ekiti, who has always been a promoter of Ekiti indigenous fabrics, during her interview, revealed her support for the Ekiti born Miss Nigeria contestant, Miss Deborah Adebowale through costumes and make-ups will boost her chances of becoming the next Miss Nigeria.
Afuye who is currently a script writer, screen designer, costumier, content creator and the Director of Efunsetan among other plays said she had been building her career in the line of Theater Arts since her primary school days, adding that she loves to design costumes for stage productions.
Afuye an advocate of Ekiti indigenous fabrics, revealed her passion on how Ekiti State Government could use its position to infuse and promote the indigenous culture of the state at public primary and secondary schools by introducing some indigenous fabrics such as ‘Aso oke’, Adire among others that could be used as either Monday or Wednesday school wears, sport wears, joggers, cardigans as this would keep promoting the state cultural attires.
She, however, encouraged the youths to venture into arts and designs and also have passion for same without necessarily relying on white collar jobs that are no longer visible.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
