Frank Ikegwuonu, the president, Queen of Nollywood Reality show, says that the show has unified the country better and contributed to the development and preservation of her cultural heritage.
It had achieved this objective in its past shows where it had crowned Nollywood queens from the six geo-political zones of the country .
Ikegwuonu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the 2018 edition held in Bauchi State prompted the state government to support the sponsorship of the 2019 Bauchi Cultural Carnival.
He said that the contestants in the 10th Queen of Nollywood Reality show held in 2018 were camped at the Yankari Games Reserve, courtesy of the Bauchi State Government.
He said that Gloria Otouaye was crowned the National Queen of Nollywood then and she was directed to organise the 2019 Bauchi Carnival.
He said that the Bauchi State Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Council for Arts and Culture had to support the sponsorship of the 2019 Bauchi Cultural Carnival held in April.
The president said that the Queen of Nollywood show was not a beauty pageant.
“The show focuses on drama and cultural entertainment with strict adherence to the African culture and traditions with invited Nollywood celebrities as moderators and judges,” he said.
He said that the 11th edition of the show scheduled for September would be the biggest and the most celebrated show of its kind in Africa.
However, he said that the Nollywood Entertainment and Leadership Awards (NELAS) in collaboration with their partners in the Diaspora were also planning to give posthumous awards to some African influential women of the past centuries.
He said that posthumous awards would be given to: Queen Aminatu of Zaria, Queen Candance of Ethiopia, Queen Cleopatra of Egypt and others during the 2019 show.
This was based on how such women had positively impacted on the societies during their life time.
Ikegwuonu said that the theme for the 2019 edition is “The Missing Beads’’ which would feature 37 contestants representing all the states and the F.C.T., Abuja.
He said that the best 10 among the 37 contestants would be selected for the grand finale.
From the 10, the panel of judges would select the best six queens that as Nollywood queens for the six geo-political zones of the country.
“The six queens will receive awards with endorsements, movie contracts, cash prizes and enjoy overseas trips,” he said.
