Queen Moremi Ajasoro’s beauty pageant: Candidates advocate sacrifice, gender equality from nation’s leaders
By: HighCelebritySquard
Some of the
41candidates shortlisted for the final of the second edition of Queen
Moremi Ajasoro’s (QMA) beauty pageant have advised the nation’s leaders to
emulate the heroic qualities of the legendary queen for a sustainable
governance.
They told the media
from Ile-Ife, Osun, where they were camped for training ahead of the grand
finale slated for Dec.3 that the country’s leaders must be ready to make
sacrifices for national development.
They said that the
legendary Queen Moremi Ajasoro (QMA) was an advocate of nationalism, peaceful
co-existence, tolerance and exhibited heart of gold in her life time.
These virtues and
other attributes made her to find solutions to the challenges that faced the
people of Ile-Ife and its environs in those years, they said.
Reports said that the
41candidates were selected out of no fewer than 500 girls that obtained forms.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba
Enitan Ogunwusi, also the initiator of the QMA project, provided N5million as
payment for forms for those who could not afford the price.
A 24- year-old
undergraduate, Miss Adebowale Akanbi-Akinlade, said that she chose to
participate in the project because the legend was an epitome of leadership with
a heart of gold.
“Our leaders should
defend our country and not just their immediate society, because Moremi Ajasoro
did not do this for Ile-Ife alone.
“She extended her
fight against rape, child trafficking, killings and inhumanity to other areas
within the Yoruba kingdom then.
“She exhibited her
bravery and courage at all expense.
“As a prospective
beauty queen, we have to be brave and courageous if we want to be successful.
“We must not see the
contest as just emphasing physical beauty, it involves the inner beauty
which is about our good characters and responsibilities as future mothers
and protectors of our people,” she said.
Akanbi-Akinlade noted
that the legendary QMA promoted the Yoruba language and culture which we should
strive to promote among youth and leaders.
“We should encourage
our leaders to promote our culture and traditions through festivals.
This will encourage
our youths to embrace the wearing of their traditional clothes, eat native
foods, and encourage them to visit their home towns to learn more about their
roots,’’ she said.
Also, Miss Theressa
Oladele, who runs a skincare business, said that the legacies of QMA were so
relevant in contemporary society that it should not be overlooked but should be
emulated and exhibited by our leaders.
“The queen’s traits
are legacies we should all endeavour to exhibit, especially by our leaders to
engender effective peace and development,’’ she said.
Oladele said that
promoting culture and tradition had always been something she aspired to doing
since was growing up under her grandma.
“My grandma really
helped in teaching and impacting our culture into my lifestyle.
“I can proudly say I
do not have difficulties speaking Yoruba language despite English language
being Nigeria’s language of instruction.’’
She said if
successful, she would like to set up a foundation that would empower women,
defend rape and sexually molested victims.
Another candidate,
20-year-old Ajibade Oluwatomiloba and a graduate of political science,
said she chose to participate in the pageant because she would want to
eliminate gender inequality in the country.
Oluwatomiloba, said
that the queen was a model of sacrifice which every leader should possess.
“I will draw from QMA
experience that leadership is earned by sacrifice which I will project when I
win by assisting the internally displaced persons in Nigeria in particular.
“Her qualities are
relevant to the development of our contemporary society, because it illustrates
the early involvement of women in politics in Yoruba society and also
highlights her heroic deeds.
“I speak Yoruba
language very well and fluently and I will be promoting our culture and
tradition by encouraging women to speak our language and wear African brands,”
she said.
Similarly, Miss
Fadekemi Folarin, 22, said she chose to participate in the project because she
wanted to exhibit selfless service, which she learnt from the queen.
The National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC) member said, “ I chose to participate in the project
because I want to represent my people and project my culture locally and
Internationally, and also serve my people.
“The legendary queen
was a beautiful, intelligent and selfless leader, who went as far as
sacrificing her only son (Oluorongbo) to the Esirinmi River Goddess.
”How many can do that?
And that stood her out and made her a relevant leadership model to our
contemporary society especially to our Yoruba people,” she said.
Folarin, a graduate of
Guidance and Counseling urged ladies and women to emulate such courage,
sacrifice, intelligence and bravery in promoting the culture and tradition of
the nation.
The tenure of the
incumbent queen, Miss Blessing Animashaun, a 600-level dental surgery student
of the University of Ibadan, would end on Dec.3. She emerged the winner out of
375 contestants and was crowned by Oba Ogunwusi in Ile Ife in 2016.
Princess Ronke
Ademiluyi,the ambassador of QMA also said that the overall winner would
get a N5 million investment fund, a brand new saloon car and become
the Cultural Ambassador to the Ooni of Ife for one year.
Queen Moremi Ajasoro’s beauty pageant: Candidates advocate sacrifice, gender equality from nation’s leaders
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