Source: http://ww2.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11899:nigerian-wins-miss-university-africa-2010&catid=54:campus&Itemid=568
Reigning Miss University Nigeria (MUN), Powede Lawrence, has won the 5th edition of the Miss University Africa. Danielle Hugo, from South Africa, is the 1st runner up while Fatou Alieu Njia from The Gambia is the 2nd runner up.
Bayelsa State once again became the glory of all lands as national university beauty queens from 25 African countries converged in Yenagoa for 15 days (May 6 to 22) for the Miss University Africa International 2010 pageant.
The event, which was sponsored through the office of Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Alanyingi Sylva, was organised by Visions Innovations and Concepts Ltd.
Participating countries include Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Congo DRC, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Seychelles, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Zanzibar and the host, Nigeria.
The boot camp was an eventful one as the 25 queens were given different tasks to test their IQ since the pageant aimed at celebrating “beauties with brains.”
Fun and glamour were not left out, as Governor Timipre Sylva and his wife hosted the queens to a state dinner/interactive session.
There was also a visit to Brass by boat, which turned out to be one of the most exciting beach experiences for the girls. They also visited the Bayelsa State Rice Farm and were informed of the state’s vision to export rice to other states in Nigeria and outside the country.
Then came the grand finale, where the contestants had to compete for the only crown of who becomes the queen for all of Africa. The beauty of the event was when the young brains and beauty came out in colourful traditional attires from their countries.
The panel of judges, drawn from various countries, was chaired by Chief Bisi Olatilo of Biscon Communications. Other members were Mr. Jacque El Chakary, a beauty expert from France; Mr. Jamil Abdallah, President, Intercommodities, Beirut, Lebanon; Mr. Rena Callist, President Miss East Africa Pageant, Tanzania; Ms. Yolanda Bernard, TV presenter from South Africa; Mr. Mazem Ahmed, Chairman, Montaco Globals, UK and Mrs. Sylva Brigidi, former Commissioner for Education, Bayelsa.
Powede, a 200-Level Nursing student of the Niger Delta University (NDU), eventually clinched the much coveted crown. Also at the event, Governor Sylva was awarded the “Most Student/Youth Loving Governor in Nigeria” by the Miss University Africa International Organisation.
