In what could be likened to a carnival, Calabar, the
Cross River State capital was yesterday agog as 37
contestants drawn from the 36 states and Abuja arrived
the state for this year’s Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
(MBGN) Pageant.
Shortly after assuming office, the state governor, Pro
fessor Ben Ayade, had signed a Memorandum of Under
standing (MoU) on behalf the state government for a 4-
year-hosting right with the pageant organizers,
Silverbird.
The event which is slated to take place at the presti
gious five thousand seat capacity Calabar International
Convention Centre (CICC), rated as second best in
Africa, according to the organizers, promises to be the
best of its kind ever hosted by Silverbird Group.
Speaking to newsmen shortly on arrival at the airport,
Manager Entertainment, Silverbird Group, Mr. Alozie
Uzoukwu said: “We are bringing to the stage an
exceptional bond that exists between the Silverbird and
Cross River with a view to sustaining a peaceful coexis
tence.”
On the theme of the pageant show, Uzoukwu main
tained: “Another unique offering in this event is the fact
that we are adopting Climate Change as our theme. We
are here to preach climate change, that Cross River
State and the governor believe in and we can’t wait to
see what Calabar has to offer. We will interpret and
translate our theme “climate change” during the event.
“I encourage Nigerians to come, watch climate change
being translated on stage,” he added.
Producer of the show, Ms. Juliet Hagarmen noted: “We
are molding a queen that will challenge her counterparts
at the global arena during the Miss World and Miss Uni
verse Event. So, we are putting up a show that will be
accepted internationally.”
Special Adviser, Governor’s Office and Event Man
agement, Mr. Ken Akhla disclosed that the state is
collaborating with Silverbird Group to package the event
to show to the world its innate features of hospitality,
warmth and receptiveness in Nigeria.
He averred that “Cross River is known as a tourism
state in Nigeria and you should not expect anything less
in terms of organization and package, more so as this
event is coming shortly before our annual Calabar
Festival.
According to him, “as a prelude to the famous Carnival
Calabar, this year, our focus is on environmental con
servation, preservation and control with the introduction
of Green Carnival Show.”
