By JOSHUA OLOMU

Miss Emilia Nwabudike, 25, has emerged winner of the 2024 Queen of Peace Nigeria International Pageant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwabudike, a trained caterer and event manager, who represented Delta State, was crowned the new queen on Friday night in Abuja.

She edged out 16 other contestants to emerge the overall winner of the annual peace pageant, organised by Messengers of Peace Foundation (MOP).

Contestants for the pageant were selected from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, and 10 were crowned at the grand finale to promote peace initiatives alongside MOP in the next one year.

Miss Ananambiet Daniel, who represented Akwa Ibom emerged Queen of Peace International, Miss Joan Onuh, who represented FCT was named Face of Messengers of Peace Foundation and Miss Mercy Benedict, emerged Queen of Peace Teen.

Other winners are Miss Deborah Edeh, Queen of Peace North Central; Miss Destiny Innocent, Queen of Peace North-West; Miss Hadiza Yusuf, Queen ofPeaceNorth-East; and Miss Jennifer Ebubechukwu , Queen ofPeace South-East.

Also include are Miss Olayemi Jegede, Queen ofPeace South-West and Miss Blessing Dauda, who represented Edo State, Queen ofPeace South-South.

In his address, the National President, Messenger of Peace, Dr Suleiman Adejoh said the annual pageant was a flagship initiative of the MOP aimed at engaging young Nigerians in its peace campaign.

According to him, the contestants were made to pass through mentoring on peace and how to promote peaceful coexistence within and beyond Nigeria.

“The main objective is to work for the promotion of peace across the country irrespective of tribe, gender and religion.

“The Queens will represent the six geopolitical zones of the country, while the lead Queen will be promoting peace in Nigeria and the International Queen shall be responsible to promote peace through Nigerians in diaspora,” he said.

The new Queen of Peace Nigeria told NAN on the sideline that she was grateful to God and the organisers for her victory.

According to her, a decision to participate in the contest was born out of her desire to promote peaceful coexistence in communities.

“I hope to work with agencies and stakeholders that are interested in promoting peace in the country to sensitise Nigerians on the need for peaceful co-existence.

“I will champion the engagements of all stakeholders, especially youths, so we can discuss and embrace peace because we cannot progress as a nation without peace,” she said.

NAN reports that representatives of Civil Society groups and that of relevant government agencies, as well as past queens of the MOP were present at the event.

Comedians, music artists and other entertainers drawn from the FCT and beyond thrilled fans during the night of the show. (NAN)