The Mist Beautiful Deaf Girl in Nigeria Group (MBDGN) in conjunction with the Empathy Driven International Initiative (EDWIIN), a Non-Governmental Organisation that focuses on protecting and defending the physically challenged society in Nigeria will hold the first-ever beauty pageant for the deaf in the country.
On Friday, 1st November 2019, fifteen beautiful, intelligent, smart and super-courageous young deaf ladies from across the country will compete for a crown that has not been worn before. Tagged “beauty in silence,” the event is which is focused on inclusion, is designed to showcase the innate abilities of a secluded people in the society.
The winner of the debut MBDGN pageant will be representing Nigeria at the 2020 Miss Deaf World Beauty Pageant in the Czech Republic while the first runner up will be representing Nigeria at the miss deaf international in the USA in 2020. The runner up will also be representing Nigeria at the miss deaf Africa in 2020.
The MBDGN is fully endorsed by the federal government through the ministry of women’s affairs.
Speaking with journalists at a press conference in Lagos, the CEO MBDGN, Dr. Tolulope Oko-Igaire, said, “it has been nineteen years (19) since the miss deaf world beauty pageant began in the Czech Republic and Africa’s most populated nation is poised to be a part of this for the very first time. This has been in the pipeline since 2011 and in 2012, we brought Miss Deaf International into Nigeria. This is a dream come through, we are partnering with EDWIIN and this has come to stay. MBDGN is about making sure that the most neglected set of people in this part of this world are heard.
“Beyond the beauty pageant, we also want the public to know that all over the world, we are talking about inclusion. We are talking about an inclusive society; although they live in a silent world, this pageant is going to throw a lot of things to light. The violence that a woman living with a disability goes through, the neglect and exclusion that a girl with hearing or speech impairment experiences. All through this pageant, their beauty, their intelligence, and their talents will be showcased.” Mrs. Uri Ngozichukwuka, the convener of EDWIIN and principal partner of MBDGN 2019 revealed.
The event is billed to commence on October 26 has a variety of programs like a visit to the deaf children school, Nike Art Gallery, Lekki Conservation, a spa treatment for the contestants, an awareness walk around Lagos and a grand finale where the winner of the pageant will be crowned.
Veteran actress, Princess Teni Aofiyebi one of the selected judges and mother of the day threw a weight strongly behind the initiative. Herself a former beauty queen of the Caribbeans in 1971, she expressed excitement at the initiative and urged both the government and corporate organizations to show love and support to the initiative.
Also present at the conference was the CEO of Golden Heights Travel and Tours, Mrs. Gbemileke Olaleru whose company has donated a travel ticket to Dubai for the winner of the pageant and her interpreter. Aside from this, the contestants will also have the opportunity of receiving various vocational training and will also be empowered to become IT and Tech-savvy via a vocational center for the deaf to be championed by the queen.
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