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NIGERIA: Pageant focuses on environmental sustainability

Don Bosco Online Radio hosts event

NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Online Radio, located in Lagos, Nigeria, recently hosted the third edition of the Africa Face of Peace Pageant. This year, there was a focus on environmental sustainability and a selection of a king and queen and three members of their court. The radio station first put out a call for sponsors and released information for the applicants to register.

An audition was conducted online, given the various locations of the contestants. At the end of the process, 13 applicants were chosen to formally compete in the pageant. The contestants came together at the Don Bosco Animation Center in Akure in October.

During the event, they had to perform a defense of the topic “Environmental sustainability: How to battle plastic pollution as a pageant king or queen.” They also had to present any home appliance made from plastic or glass bottles. The contestants impressed the judges with the creative things fashioned out of bottles, including flower vases, a waste bin, a pencil and brush holder, pencil cases, toys, a table and a flower.

Contestants also participated in a skills program, karaoke night, movie night, drama presentation, environmental talk with an expert, and dance lessons. On Oct. 6, the contestants went to the ancient town of Idanre, in southwestern Nigeria, to climb the 660 steps up the ancient hills and experience the once thriving civilization.

The grand finale started with a unity dance performance by the contestants, and after the dance, contestants were each introduced. From there, they wore creative outfits portraying an African deity of their choosing and then performed in traditional outfits representing their ethnicity. The final event was a formal dinner outfit made from Ankara and other traditional African attire. At the end of the night, Franklin Ezeigbo was crowned king and Zita Akinrimisi was crowned queen.

“Salesian organizations around the globe have been focused on environmental sustainability projects and this pageant was a unique way to highlight youth talent and skills while promoting the topic,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This pageant also brought youth from all over Nigeria together to connect and learn from each other while focusing on an important topic that impacts us all. It was a great event for everyone involved.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64 percent of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32 percent of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Nigeria – ANN Province promotes environmental sustainability with beauty pageant

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria