‘Naija no dey carry last’
The loud cheers of support that Nigerian students in Ghana gave the Nigerian contestants during last Sunday’s maiden edition of the Miss Ghana vs Nigeria University Pageant must have contributed to the confidence that saw the Nigerians take the two top positions.
Advertisement
Right from the first stage of the competition when the ladies came on stage to a choreographed introduction, the Nigerians cheered up the Nigerian contestants with shouts of “Naija no dey carry last”. That was to be the routine chant throughout the show.
Nineteen year-old Nigerian student of Sikkim Manipal University, Pamela Lilybox, was crowned the queen. Miss Victoria Chigozirim Onyeagbako, another Nigerian student of Mountcrest University College placed second while 22 year old Luisa Yayra Ziorklui, a Ghanaian student of Accra Polytechnic came third.
For her prize, the winner took away an all-expenses-paid trip to South Africa, a scholarship, adverstising deals and will be an Ambassador spearheading a campaign towards the advancement of women.
The First Runner Up had a Plasma TV, advertising deal and sponsor’s make-up for one year and the Second Runner Up took away a laptop computer , an advertising deal and sponsor’s make-up for one year.
The pageant which drew 16 contestants, eight Ghanaians and eight Nigerians from 15 tertiary schools in Ghana once again showcased Ghana and Nigeria’s friendly rivalry as the beauties battled it out with rich cultural performances during the four hour show.
The show started four hours behind the advertised time of 6: 30 pm. It kicked off with performances from some relatively unknown artistes from both Ghana and Nigeria and their performances seemed to have “gingered” up the mood of the audience who were predominantly Nigerians for the show ahead.
The contestants keenly competed in the various segments of the competition from the display of their own designed African wear, talent hunt and modeling in their evening wear, which was quite impressive.
However, they were not quite impressive during the question and answer segment, a scenario which occasionally drew giggling and murmurings from the audience but on the whole, the contestants pulled off an average show on the night.
Some of the contestants were outstanding. For example, Miss Luisa Yayra Ziorklui, who put up a great show won three awards including the Best Confident and Eloquence, Best African Wear and the Best Talent Outstanding awards.
Mavis Djan, a 21 year old Ghanaian student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology also won the Miss Exemplary Leadership Skills award.
There were performances by dancehall artistes, Natural Faze and MzVee and hiplife group, 55 to crown an eventful evening which dragged on till Monday dawn.
In an interview with the Event Co-ordinator, Mr. Diamond Roland, he said that the Miss Ghana Vs Nigeria University pageant was introduced as a means of fostering and strengthening the Ghana and Nigeria relationship established over the years.
He said that the pageant was not a platform to showcase beautiful ladies from both countries but would be used as an avenue to empower young females academically and orient them for the job market through “the finesse of the educated mind”.
Apart from that, the pageant, he said, was also aimed at promoting the cultural uniqueness of the two countries.
