It was glamorous. The atmosphere was thick with excitement as hundreds gathered to witness who would be the next 2012/2013 Miss University Nigeria.
A no-bikini beauty pageant, guests and participants didn't have to wait long before the winner was announced. She is Winfrey Okolo, a 400 level law student of the University of Benin.
Held recently in Abuja, the pageant was in partnership with the Ministry of State for the Federal Capital Territory. Okolo's victory came with a brand new Nissan Sunny car and a chance to represent Nigeria at the Miss University Africa pageant, which comes up in February 2013.
Miss Iwebuke Jennifer of the University of Lagos and Omole Oyindamola of the University of Ibadan were first and second runners up respectively. Speaking excitedly after being announced the new queen, 20-year-old Okolo said, "I am so happy to be crowned Miss University Nigeria. This is a giant leap for me and I am sure now I have a national platform to further reach out to humanity in my own little way. To the other contestants, you all are winners too, and I appreciate you all for making the competition worthwhile for me."
Veteran broadcaster and Chief Executive Officer of Inspiration FM, Soni Irabor, who headed the panel of Judges comprising among others, Nollywood actresses, Kate Henshaw and Susan Peters, declared that the new queen comes complete. According to Irabor, "She is not just beautiful, she is brainy; she epitomises the ideals of this pageant and I have no doubt that she will succeed in any field she puts her mind to."
This was the sixth edition of the beauty pageant, which had over the years been hosted by Ogun, Delta, Bayelsa, Benue and Rivers State governments. It has brought to the fore 70 university queens in Nigeria with 50 finalists making it to the grand finale. The enthusiastic contestants were camped in Abuja, where they were availed training and grooming sessions from leading beauty experts from across the world.
Mr. Taylor Nazzal, the managing director, Visions Innovations and Concepts Limited, co-organiser of the pageant, explained what the pageant aimed to achieve.
"The Miss University Nigeria pageant is a non-bikini pageant comprising all Nigerian universities irrespective of their religious beliefs or ethnicity with the view to discouraging indecent dressing, celebrates beauties with brains, promote education, promote national unity, discover the innate potentials of Nigerian students/youths and celebrate Nigeria globally."
Past winners of the MUN include Odogwu Janet (Delta State University), Aminat Ayuba (Nnamdi Azikwe University), Powede Lawrence (Niger Delta University) who went on to win the continental crown for Nigeria in 2009; Joan Ene-Ita (University of Port Harcourt) and Temitope Olowoniyan who emerged the second runner-up at the continental pageant in 2011.
