Sharon Anya has been crowned Miss Tourism Nigeria for 2015. Her emergence marks the end of the reign of Collette Nwadike who received the title in May 2014. TheNiche was one of the media partners of this year’s event, which was organised by QHUE concepts
The razzmatazz on the night hit a crescendo when 28 ladies vying for the crown displayed their virtues to convince the judges that one of them deserved the crown.
Guest artiste after another entertained an audience which included the creme de la creme of the society who gathered to witness the crowning of one of the most glamorous beauty queens in Nigeria at the newly built hall of the Imperial Lekki Coliseum, Lekki, Lagos.
The event, where there were over 8,000 in the audience and over 100 brand sponsors, also scooped the Most Outstanding Beauty Pageant Award 2014/2015 by the Nigerian Fashion Week.
Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Director General, Sally Mbanefo, praised the painstaking and dogged effort of the organisers to promote tourism through pageant, and stated the readiness of the NTDC to welcome creative efforts to develop tourism in the country.
Mbanefo was represented by Ody Anumba.
After performances by musical acts Kswitch, Toby Gray, Youngsix, Selebobo, Lamboginny, Dlyte, Byno among others, the contest began with the ladies coming out in the attires of the various states they represented.
The musical sensation of the night was Joe Blue who rendered a romantic theme song which engrossed the crowd as the ladies came out in short skirts.
Other personalities who graced the occasion included Joan Okorodudu, founder of Isis Models, House of Jola, and ECOWAS Fashion Week; Nigeria Country Manager for ASKY Airlines, Mobolaji Ogunwunmi; Anambra State Police Commissioner, H.H. Karma; actress Ebube Nwagbo, members of the diplomatic corps, business tycoons, and people from the world of fashion, entertainment, beauty, as well as musicians, actors, and actresses.
Anya, who represented Abuja, walked away with an official brand new car and an opportunity to represent Nigeria at the 2015 Miss Tourism World pageant.
The runners up are Chinonso Opara (Bauchi), who was crowned Miss Tourism Nigeria Globe (she will represent Nigeria at the next Miss Globe pageant in Turkey); and Celine Eban (Osun) who won Miss Tourism Nigeria Continent (she will represent Nigeria at Miss Continent in Ecuador).
Miss Imo, who was crowned Miss Tourism Nigeria Africa, will represent Nigeria at Miss Africa USA.
The event also included the launch of the maiden edition of “Nigeria Tourism & Style Awards”, an initiative designed to recognise, reward and celebrate brands and personalities who drive the promotion of Nigeria’s tourism on the international scene.
Other award winners on the night included
1. Hotel of the Year – Trigpoint Hotels (The Most Resilient Performance Award)
2. Hotel of the Year – Citilodge Hotels (Most Supportive Travel and Tourism Brand)
3. Tourism Governor of the Year – Willie Obiano, Anambra State Governor
4. Most Influential Personality in Tourism – Sally Mbanefo, NTDC Director General
5. Excellence in Public Service – H.H. Karma, Anambra State Police Commissioner
6. Tourism Airline Brand of the Year – ASKY Airlines
7. Lifestyle Mobile Brand of the Year – TECNO Mobile Nigeria
8. Style Personality of the Year – Ebube Nwagbo
9. Young Person of the Year – Adebola Williams
10. Style Photographer Of the year – Efe Lopez
11. Style Magazine of the Year – Complete Fashion
12. Lifestyle Best Emerging PR Brand – Scoop Concepts
13. Lifestyle Best Emerging Music Producer – Selebobo
14. Style Supportive Brand of the Year – Philadelphia
15. Company Of The Year – Domino’s Pizza Nigeria
16. Queen of Hearts – Collete Nwadike
17. Queen of Hearts – Jennifer Igwegbe
18. Queen of Hearts – Tomi Salami
19. Excellence Achievement Awards (Best Modeling Agency) – Joan Okorodudu