Most Beautiful Girl in Anioma and the reigning Miss Umu Anioma 2017 Beauty Queen, Sandra Nkemakonam Obi has called for massive job creation for the teeming youths in Delta State, particularly in the Anioma region of the oil-rich state.

Miss Obi made the call recently while briefing journalists on the outcome of her Valentine’s Day visit to Mother Divine Grace Orphanage in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Miss Obi said that with adequate youth employment to the graduates who pass out every year, vices such as stealing, kidnapping and prostitution will be reduced to the barest minimum.

While expressing disappointment at the attitude of the youths towards Anioma culture and traditions, the beauty queen appealed to the youths to always promote Anioma cultural heritage by wearing her attires and speaking the language, stressing that, that is the only way to keep the identity intact.

Miss Umu Anioma advised the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to do more to build-up and support Anioma nation.

She said: “The Umu Anioma Foundation is a Non Governmental Organisation for the promotion of Anioma ideals. We have an Anioma Governor and he doesn’t seem to recognise Anioma gatherings such as the pageant and Anioma Foundation World Convention, for that matter. This is not good at all. Apart from the government, we have well placed individuals that could help assist in the aspirations of our youths but they are not doing so. I want to use this opportunity to appeal to them to rise up to the challenge of listening to the yearnings of the youths and to also identify with the Umu Anioma Foundation, particularly, the annual beauty pageant.”

Advising upcoming beauty queens, Miss Obi urged them to believe in themselves and avoid distractions that come in form of wrong perceptions and impressions on beauty queens in the country.

“There are always controversies surrounding beauty pageants but I’m getting used to it. This is my second shot at beauty contest, the first being Miss DSTv where I also won as second runner up. It is not about sleeping with people; it is about what you have in yourself. We are born with our destinies and different attributes.”

The Mass Communication undergraduate narrated that she was initially discouraged from contesting for the Miss Umu Anioma Beauty Pageant because of the fear of losing the crown but later summoned courage to venture into the competition.

“Before I went for the Miss Umu Anioma Pageant, I was feeling like ‘can I win?’ In fact, I was scared that I may lose again like it happened in Miss DSTv but my aunty encouraged me to give it a trial as I have gained experience in the past attempts. Due to her encouragement, I felt like giving it a trial which I did. Truly, you don’t have to sleep with anybody to win the beauty crown,” the Anioma queen said.

On the challenges, the beauty queen who said that she is striving to impact positively on the society, especially the less privileged added that, “I have this belief that I have to do something that I would be remembered for. I like to be remembered for a lot of good things. With God by my side, I know I will do something memorable for my people before my tenure expires. However, sponsorships and funding are important because without funding, my projects will not go the way I planned it.”

Emphasising on the importance of education, Miss Obi advised Anioma Youths to try all they could do to get good education. She however, appealed to those who may not further their education to engage themselves in trades that can give them good livelihood, adding that such engagements are the only way to create a peaceful and progressive society.

After her visit to the Orphanage in Okpanam, she also made out time to pay a visit to the palace of the Ugo-Ani of Okpanam, HRM Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu. Also, she visited Her Royal Highness, the Omu of Okpanam, Dr. Martha Dunkwu.

•Photo shows Miss Umu Anioma, Sandra Nkemakonam Obi, flanked by children and coordinators of Mother Divine Grace Orphanage in Okpanam, Oshimili North, Delta State when the queen visited recently.