An uncommon beauty pageant will, on Friday, produce the most beautiful hearing-impaired girl in Nigeria. The platform called The Most Beautiful Deaf Girl in Nigeria Group (MBDGN) was initiated to showcase the beauty of people with disability in this category, with the organisers saying it was a way of demonstrating that disability and beauty are not mutually exclusive.
According to them, inclusion is not a peculiar issue. There are more than a billion people living with disabilities around the world. They noted in a statement that, approximately, two out of every twelve people are personally affected. While major countries across the world have initiated conditions for making inclusion happen in their societies, inclusion is still not seen as an issue that concerns everyone.
“Approximately 70% of the world’s people with disabilities live in developing countries, and a disproportionate number of them are among the very poorest people on earth. This is not a coincidence. The relationship between poverty and disability is well understood. This category of people frequently copes with bad working conditions, nutritional deficiencies, unhygienic facilities and a lack of health care.
“However, there is a growing awareness of new disability rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the General Assembly in 2006. As of July 2015, it has 159 signatories and 157 parties, which makes it one of the most ratified treaties in the human rights system. Nigeria joined in the recognition of people with disabilities in 2019 with the passing of the Disability Rights Law in January 2019.
“This is what inspires the concept of The Most Beautiful Deaf Girl in Nigeria Group (MBDGN); with the selfless will of projection by 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,” the statement noted, adding that the contest was different in nothing from the other contests, except for one thing: all participants are girls with hearing impairments.
Then the MBDGN said, “On Friday, 1st November 2019, 15 beautiful, intelligent, smart and super-courageous young hearing-impaired ladies from across the country will be on a national stage to showcase “beauty in silence”, as they compete for a crown that has not been worn before in Nigeria.
“The prestigious Standard Bearers School shall host over 2000 guests, as the first Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria will Emerge amidst glitz and glamour.
“In the build-up to the main event, the contestants have been on road trips, visiting some of the most interesting and historic places in Nigeria. They recently paid a visit to Nike Art Gallery, where they had the opportunity to “chat” with the Queen of Art in Africa, Nike Okundaye who embraced the girls in her loving arms and treated them like the Queen that they are.”
Madam Nike is a Nigerian woman with no formal education but lectures at Harvard, and other top varsities. Not many in her homeland appear to know about her unique story. But in other lands, especially Europe and America, she is a ‘goddess’ whose works are cherished by kings and presidents
Madam Nike was said to have sung for the girls, as she welcomed them along with her entire staff. She stated that persons with disabilities had never been brought to her gallery for special visits, and described how she’d cherished the moment with the contestants. She reflected on her story with them and encouraged them to always stand as kings by their own fireside. She also talked about the highest-selling painting in the world now, which is Dora Akunyili’s daughter’s artwork, valued at $ 3.5m. she reiterated that only the contestant could build a limit for themselves and how far their talents could take them.
The contestants also paid a visit to deaf children school and share memorable moments with the students, who were also inspired by the strong will of the contestants, where were sessions for photos and the students were elated about the MBDGN contestants’ visit.
The entire team shall storm the popular Trinity House Church, Victoria Island, Lagos for a Special Thanksgiving with Pastor Itua Ighodalo after the contest. The convener EDWIIN and principal partner of MBDGN 2019, Mrs. Uri Ngozichukwuka, revealed that beyond the beauty pageant, the public needs 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.”
The CEO MBDGN, Dr. Tolulope Oko-Igaire, while speaking with newsmen, said, “it has been nineteen years since the miss deaf world beauty pageant began in the Czech Republic and Nigeria 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, as we are partnering with EDWIIN. MBDGN is about making sure that the most neglected set of people in this part of this world are heard.”
Veteran actress, Princess Teni Aofiyebi, who is also one of the selected judges and mother of the day, threw her weight strongly behind the initiative. Being a beauty queen of the Caribbeans in 1971, she expressed excitement at the initiative and urged both the government and corporate organisations to continue to show love and support to the initiative.
The CEO of Golden Heights Travel and Tours, Mrs. Gbemileke Olaleru, whose company is wholesomely supporting the MBDGN 2019, also assured the winner at the grand finale, a travel ticket to Dubai. 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.
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 historic project has enjoyed endorsements and supports from other kind-hearted women who have embraced people with disabilities and see them as a significant part of society. They include the project’s strategic partner, Mrs. Dupe Adeyinka Oni, Proprietress, Standard-bearers School; Princess Teni Aofiyebi (Lead judge), and Her Royal Highness Erelu Abiola Dosumu (Mother of the day). Other judges are Mrs, Diana Nwandu, Mrs. Funmi Onajide, Mrs. Bimbo Ojukutu, Mrs. Funmi Ajanaku, MrFemi Awodele, Mrs. Eunice Omole, and Deaconess Adedoyin, Dr Tolu Oko Igare.
The pageant’s Strategic partners include Standard Bearers school, GOSL, Ebony life, Plus TV, First impression, Mrs. Asake Davies, Bella beauty, Wuras kitchen, OB Baker, PS Luxury events, and Trinity House. The pageant shall also feature a new artistic exhibition by Austin Iyang, Yadi Chinma Okoha-Kalu, The accommodation was provided by the compliments of H21, Ms Bettina Ossai, Mrs. Nonye Okoye and The Lekki Coliseum,
