Former beauty queen wants stiffer penalties against prostitution, trafficking

Former Miss Nigeria, Mrs. Anna Ode, has urged the government to do more to curb women prostitution and trafficking in the country. The former beauty queen, who reigned in 1965 and recently hosted the reigning Miss Nigeria Florida, United States, Martha Ogionwo, on her first visit to Nigeria, told newsmen that the Federal Government and parents are not doing enough to curb the rate of prostitution and human trafficking in Nigeria.

“When it comes to prostitution in Nigeria, our leaders and parents should please go into the culture of Nigeria and forget the things that divide us. There was a time when women prostitution and trafficking was the concern of government. They employed women in the ministry to go to Italy and discourage them from continuing prostitution and come back home to be gainfully employed. Many of them learnt some handcraft. Suddenly government is no longer interested in what is happening to our girls anymore. You see our girls being abused and neglected daily. That is why I am so happy this young lady came home and decided to go to schools and inspire the students,” she said.

Voicing her concerns about the state of pageantry in Nigeria, Ode said she feels the Miss Nigeria pageant has lost its former glory but hopes the new beauty queens would help change the trend. “The Miss Nigeria pageant of recent has been nothing to write home about, although I am happy the nudity has reduced.”

The Miss Nigeria Florida, Martha Ogionwo, who has visited charity homes and schools in Lagos to inspire and encourage students, expressed her displeasure at the state of the classrooms and teaching conditions in Nigeria.