By Akanimo Sampson
Abia State Government says it will continue to develop youths of the state through education, skill acquisition and other programmes that will make them self-reliant.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Friday Ikpeoha, made this public in Umuahia, the state capital while handing over a car to the winner of Miss Abia 2021 beauty pageant, Miss Chikaodi Agidi.
He explained that the activities of the ministry centres on developing and empowering youths in various area of skill acquisition and education.
According to him, over 40 youths of the state recently left the state to undergo training at the Innoson motor company, stressing that many youths have become self dependent through the activities of the ministry.
The pageant was organised by Gees Concept Modelling Company in collaboration with the Abia State government.
“Our mandate is to build, develop, and empower the Abia youth, to such extent that we give the youth education and skill that will make them self employed. As we talk, over 40 youths of Abia state are undergoing a train with Innoson.
“So, we can’t bring out Abia youths to what won’t benefit them. The company registered with the ministry of Youth Development, we brought state government officials to identify with the event. Government was fully involved because we saw that what he was doing was real. What the company did is a kind of empowerment, just like the winner was given a car, there was consolation prices.
“I commend the company; the Ministry and Abia state government will continue to partner the company in doing more programmes that will benefit the youth and state’’, he said.
Managing Director of Gees Concept Modelling Company, Felix Onuiri, in his address said the show was held on April 11, 2021, where the queen was produced.
He disclosed that it was a big task for his company to hold the show because of fraudulent activities of fake modeling companies and urged the Abia State government to set up a taskforce to monitor modeling companies.
“The girls have deceived many times; any of them that you call to come and contest will tell you; is it the one I will contest and I won’t get anything? They will give you many instances where they have been deceived. They even called names. The girls paid for shows but they were defrauded.
“It was a big task to convince these models to believe in my company. Abia state government should set up a taskforce; anybody that want to host a pageant must bring what he wants to give before the show is done.
Describing the show as free and fair, Onuiri further disclosed that the eligibility criterion was that the contestant must have lived in Abia for two years, irrespective of where she hails from.
“The car is fully insured; the clause is that the car won’t leave Abia state until one year; the branding won’t be removed until one year. After a year, the car totally becomes the property of the model.”
Winner of the pageant, Miss Agidi, a student of Abia State University, Uturu, pledged to use her position to visit secondary school students and teach them how to resist harassment and other forms of abuse.
