Beautiful, bold and intelligent Miss Syvia Ekwenibe is the first ever Miss Institute. She was crowned in a tension – soaked event at Club Vegas, Opebi Link Road, Lagos, on Sunday, September 16, 2012.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka undergraduate had a chat with YES International!’s GBENGA SHABA during a courtesy visit to our corporate office on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.
Let us meet you.
I’m Sylvia Ekwenibe, a student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I’m studying Estate Management and I’m in my final year. I’m from Umuabani village in Neni community, Anambra State. I’m from a family of eight, including my parents.
Why did you decide to contest in a beauty pageant?
It is in line with my goals in life. I’ve always planned to create a change through the youths because we are the future of tomorrow and this project is seriously about the education of the youths in all tertiary institutions. Everybody comes together to achieve a national aim that will be in line with what President Jonathan wants in his transformation agenda programme.
How was the experience during the contest?
Tasking and very challenging. Many of my competitors were very brilliant and it’s all about the brain and not seriously about the looks. Serious questions on our eligibility to wear the crown were asked, but thank God I was successful.
How many competitors did you have and what gave you the edge over them?
Ten beauty queens made it to the final stage. It is just God because all the finalists were very intelligent and very beautiful. But the edge I could say I had was my creativity.
What form of creativity gave you this edge?
Like my traditional attire, which was very unique with a biscuit wrap that I used as a wrapper, telling the audience that nothing is a waste and encouraged them on environmental sustainability and this really impressed the judges and a lot of people. This, I think, gave me the edge over the other contestants.
Students that partake in beauty pageants are considered to be unserious. What is your take on this?
That is not really saying the truth because for you to be able to combine this with your academics shows you are very intelligent. The majority of us are leading our various departments.
What are some of the projects you plan to embark on now as a beauty queen?
I have a lot. One of them is what I call STAR (Strategic Transformation Agenda for Regeneration); a focus on Nigerian youths. It has four focal points which include: improvement in the health sector, environmental sanitation, youth empowerment and awareness on self security. This awareness is going to be in all parts of the country.
Since winning the crown, how has it been?
It’s been good. I feel privileged to be a queen. It has given me responsibilities that I need to make it work well and worthwhile. Although, it has been tasking because, you have to make sure your academics is not affected in anyway and you have to perform your roles very well as a beauty queen too.
What are some of the things that have changed about you since you won?
Nothing really has changed about me. It is a bit surprising that once you are called a queen, some take you for a goddess or witch, who is only after her own material gains. But that is not correct. Miss Institution stands for sensitization of youths to create a change in our country. Nevertheless, as a beauty queen, I now watch the way I talk so as to keep representing well.
What about among your colleagues and peers in school?
They see me like a role model and that you have something to offer makes them look up to you. So, I’m always on my toes knowing full well that there are responsibilities that I need to account for, but it’s been fun.
So, as a beauty queen, what are your expectations now?
I’m looking up to be a very respected model, not just only in Nigeria, but in the world at large.
STORY: Gbenga Shaba
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