Search for face of Okija begins

Determined to give more youths the opportunity to share and imbibe in laudable values, the Obijackson Foundation has unveiled its plans to expand this year’s Face of Okija Cultural Pageant and Talent Hunt to include contestants from the entire communities in Anambra state.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Prof. Rich Umeh, the Obijackson Foundation was established to support Nigerians in overcoming life’s obstacles occasioned by poverty or physical disability and since inception, the foundation has consistently intervened in critical areas such as education, healthcare and infrastructure.

“We have issues of drug abuse, rape, prostitution on the rise and no one is talking about it, as the elections draws near and so we believe we can use this medium to spread the message and reach out to our young people.”

While the Project Director, Konnie Agu said the year’s event tagged ‘re-engineering our moral standard’ aligns with its groundbreaking initiative that will inspire Nigerian youths to imbibe positive African values.

She stressed that rather than the usual emphasis on physical beauty in regular pageants, the ’Face of Okija Cultural Pageant and Okija Rising Talent Hunt’ seek to empower the youths and promote true African values and morals in our youth as participants are expected to display unique African beauty, intelligence and diverse talents. 

Agu called on Anambra youths under the age 30 to give themselves a chance at emerging as King or Queen of the Face of Okija Cultural Pageant by taking part in the competition. “For participation, you must be a graduate under the age of 30 and must be an indigene of Anambra state who speaks Igbo language fluently or is willing to be very fluent with our support.

“A married woman will not be allowed to contest, because it takes a lot be the ‘Face of Okija’; it requires selfless service and full dedication, you must not have tattoos or piercings and you must be available to serve the foundation within Nigeria for a continuous period of one year.” 

Similarly, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the foundation, Dr. Frank Odini noted that the grand finale of the event is scheduled to hold December 29 in Okija, Anambra State. “Winners of the competition would be offered automatic employment as brand ambassadors for the foundation with a regular monthly salary for the duration of their reign including a chauffeur driven official car.”