Encomium
On Saturday, October 10, 2014 the entire city of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state stood still as delectable damsels from across nine (9) states of the Niger Delta strutted the runway at Sheer Grace Arena. The event was the grand finale of the Face of Niger Delta Cultural Pageant Season 3 and Mr. Elisha Attai, Jennifer Eliogu, Joseph Benjamin and Yinka Nathan were all saddled with the herculean task as judges, to select the best and the brightest of them all who would be most befitting of the crown. Obed David and Nollywood hopeful, Sedater, led guests and attendees through the programme of event as comperes.
The girls who had earlier been in camp for about two weeks had already been through very rigorous drills such as cooking contests, leadership mentoring, talent contests, physical and mental fitness tests amongst several others,and the time had come for them to give their very best. Cultural troupes from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers states; all comprising the nine states of the oil rich Niger Delta region took turns to thrill guests to the rich cultural heritage of their people through their various brilliant and entertaining performances.
Their third and final outing featured flowing elegant evening dresses fashioned out from popular Niger Delta fabrics, and this time the mental and intellectual skills and abilities of the contestants were put to the test by the judges through various brain teasing questions and a special presentation on the topic Towards the Niger Delta of our Dream. While the tension mounted and the girls waited back stage for the pronouncement of the eventual winner of the contest, petite but dynamic Chidima Ekile took the audience on another rapture of electrifying musical performance, she undoubtedly did a great job at dousing the already dense atmosphere.
Victoria Ubani, a 300 level University of Port Harcourt student of Communication Arts from Abia state emerged the Face of Niger Delta 2014 in the stiff contest, while Ms. Ekemini Umoren of Akwa Ibom State and Sharon Ozuru of Rivers state emerged first and second runners up respectively. The winner was decorated by the senior manager of youth, culture, sports and women affairs NDDC Akwa Ibom; Mrs. Imabong. While the keys to a brand new KIA Rio 2014 Salon car was presented to Ms. Victoria Ubani by the Special Assistant to the MD NDDC Akwa Ibom on Youth and Culture; Mr. George Turner. Ms. Victoria Ubani’s bank account will also be credited with a N1 million cash prize, and an undisclosed monthly salary package for the duration of her reign with a leadership training trip to Sun City, South Africa.
