Contestants from 27 out of the expected 36 countries contesting for the crown of Miss Africa Climate Change Beauty Pageant have arrived Calabar for the second edition of the beauty pageant which is the initiative of Governor Ben Ayade aimed at creating awareness on the effects of climate change.
At the TINAPA Lake Resort, Miss Fatima Ibrahim Murtar, a contestant from Somalia who sounded very optimistic of winning the crown said: “I want to do something different.â€
She explained, “We are already experiencing the effect of climate change in Somalia with deadly drought all over and I want to use this platform if I eventually win to educate our people, especially those in the affected regions about the dangers and see how we could bring succour to them through empowerment with the support of international bodies.â€
Miss Hellen Itivita from South Sudan, who was awed by the beauty of Calabar: “It’s nice to be in Nigeria finally. I have been listening to their music, watched their movies but I have never been here. Thank God I made it here. It’s such a beautiful place to be.
On her chances of winning the crown, Hellen said: “I will stay positive. We all know Sudan is a war torn country and if I win this pageant I will work with the international organizations to preach more on the effect of climate change and environment.â€
Speaking in similar vein, representative of Botswana, Miss Gaseangwe Balopi, said: “It is an opportunity to visit Nigeria because I have always watched their movies right from when I was young and today I am physically here to see these beautiful people and its landscape.
“I am glad that African is gradually transiting to the green economy which is the future from the traditional monolithic economy and I want to be that change agent that will help propagate the message of climate change across Africa to make a difference.â€
On her part Miss Chikaodili Nna Udosen who is representing Nigeria at the pageant, said she was overwhelmed to be selected after a rigorous audition, adding that if she wins, “I will woo all the stakeholders to join Cross River State in the campaign against climate change which is becoming a global challenge.
“And I want to make my country proud by striving to win the pageant because it’s an honor to be the ambassador of this great event and I believe with the support of my people I stand a better chance to win the show,†she added.
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ayade on Event Management, Mr. Tom Ikpeme who promised a bumper and most memorable second edition of the pageant hinted: “As part of innovations, the winner of this year’s event will emerge through vote.â€
Ikpeme explained that the pageant has now received notable acceptability among African countries with increased number of participants and assured that the state will leverage on that to spice up the event with international entertainment. “
