The 40th Miss Nigeria will be crowned on Dec. 19, the organisers of Miss Nigeria 2016, Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), has announced following the successful conclusion of audition for contestants at the zones.
DTN said in a statement on Friday in Lagos that the event would hold at the Eko Convention Centre at 7.30 p.m. with Red and Green carpet from 5pm to 7pm.
The statement said that the zonal audition held from Nov. 29 to Dec. 5 in four locations — Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu and Lagos — to accommodate contestants from the thirty-six states.
It noted that the Port-Harcourt audition held on Nov. 29 at Hotel Presidential and the Abuja audition on Dec. 1, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja.
It added that the Enugu zone had theirs on Dec. 3 at The Hotel Presidential, Independence Layout and the final audition in Lagos was on the Dec. 4 and Dec. 5 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.
“There was a huge turnout of contestants vying for the crown. The reigning queen, Pamela Peter-Vigboro was present at the Lagos auditions to encourage the contestants.
“Interviews and screenings were conducted by experienced pageant judges,’’ the statement said.
It listed the judges for the Port Harcourt Auditions as Yenebi Dike (CEO, Clothes Rac Stores), Daye Horsfall (Fashion Influencer), Kaka Peters (Kaka’s hair Salon), Akpos Okudu (Designer)
In Abuja, they were Geraldine Uba, Chine Anosike, Vanessa Oghomwen Ogida (Project Manager and Judge, Miss Nigeria 2016), May Ikeora (Director, Miss Nigeria Organisation), while in Enugu, Jasmine Naza, Odogwuchyke, Benzufele, Noreen Odor took charge.
The Lagos auditions were handled by Isibor Nowe Alexis (Second Runner-up, Miss Nigeria 2011) and Lilian Unachukwu (Communications Director, Miss Nigeria 2016).
Others are Vanessa Oghomwen Ogida (Project Manager and Judge, Miss Nigeria 2016) and Konnie Nnachetam (Pageant Manager, Miss Nigeria 2016).
The statement said the selected ladies would be in camp where they would be involved in different activities, including 80 per cent empowerment training, fun choreography and etiquette classes.
Other activities planned for the camping duration are exploring Nigeria’s culture and heritage in Benin, the international beach soccer courtesy of “Powerhorse’’ and Mentorship by a renowned WIMBIZ member and among others.
The statement disclosed that tickets were on sale at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
It added that the organisers could be contacted on the following telephone numbers for enquires and table booking — 08033150455, 07064933209, 08176201460 or the website www.missnigeria.ng
Miss Nigeria pageant is powered by Daily Times Newspaper and sponsored by The Federal Ministry of Environment, Information and Culture, Pinnacle, Pathcare Nigeria and Zaron Cosmetics.
Others are Powerhorse, Heritage Bank, Eko Hotel and Suites, Quilox, Arik Air, Air France, Ecobank, NEPC and Shell Nigeria.
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