Tracy McWary Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has lauded the former Bayelsa Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva for promoting peace and empowering Niger Delta women.
The Founder of the foundation, Mrs Tracy McWary, in a statement in Yenagoa on Wednesday, gave the commendation at the recent grand finale of the Miss Amnesty Nigeria 2023 Beauty Pageant.
She stated that Silva, who is also a sponsor of the Beauty Pageant, had committed to peace building in the Niger Delta region as well as uplifting women in the region and Bayelsa in particular.
According to her, the pageant incorporates skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and empowerment for female Niger Delta youths.
“In the Miss Amnesty Nigeria 2023 Grand finale, we had 12 participants who underwent entrepreneurship capacity building for one week. During their one week intensive training, they were taken on different skills acquisition.
“The skills include hairdressing, head ties tying, fashion design, catering, make-up, disinfectant and bleach production.
McWary added that the grand finale also featured young performing Artistes like Faze, Aproko, Barrack Pikin, Senibo amongst other entertainers.
She noted that the contestants’ first task was to showcase their skills in presentation by dressing in the attire representing their skills in arts, graphic design, catering, organic soap, baking amongst others.
“Their second appearance was on all white, taking on different topics like Female Exploitation, Gender Equality, Challenges of Women in Politics, Gender Roles, Gender Dysphoria, Gender Discrimination, Gender Mainstreaming, and Domestic Violence.”
She stated that the top five winners were Miss Vivian Kanusb, Constance Christopher (Miss Amnesty Entrepreneur), Divine Onyekachi (Miss Amnesty Top Model) Marvin Lucky (Miss Amnesty Diaspora) and Emily Agundu (Miss Amnesty Peace)
She added that other contestants went home with various gift items which included gas cookers with ovens, electric ovens, laptops, hair washers, dryers, make up box kits and make up accessories.
Other items included industrial sewing machines and N100, 000 cash gift while the winner went home with N1 million.
The founder noted that the 2023 pageant with the theme “Equal Participation and Leadership’ had led to strategic partnership between the foundation and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).
She said the partnership was aimed at uplifting young people of the Niger Delta through the pageant.
