SOUTH EAST BEAUTY QUEEN OF THE YEAR - QUEEN JENNIFER OKAFOR

The converse of a treasured adage would be that Heaven has been let loose and all the angels are now on the face of the Earth. One of such angels would be the ex-Miss Ambassador for Peace South-East, Jennifer Okafor. This has been only too evident to anyone who has encountered her.

After a remarkable pageantry battle on the 27th September 2014 at Sheraton Hotels, with 34 beautiful women contesting for the crown, Queen Jennifer Okafor officially handed over the mantle of queenship, a mantle dripping of one monumental year of fortitude and perseverance, the like of which has never been experienced, and which earned her the title, “QUEEN OF PEACE EDUCATION IN NIGERIA”.

Speaking to her regarding the essence of the campaign, she affirmed “The campaign was to create awareness on the necessity of peace and the roles peace have to play in nation building.” It stands to logical inference that Queen Jennifer Okafor went beyond expectations.  

She championed this cause solely and so passionately that she was awarded the prestigious "South East Beauty Queen of the Year". To put this in context, out of the hundreds and thousands of beauty queens churned out of the South-East this year, Queen Jennifer Okafor flew her regal wings to the very top.

Her enthusiasm knew no bounds while she recounted her experiences as Miss Ambassador for South-East. She could barely suppress the tears of joy of having watched her dreams and ambitions as Queen grow and come to pass. It was for her, a very nostalgic moment.

She was able to express the following: “I came, I saw and I conquered. Within the space of a year I've influenced, touched, and impacted so many lives. I’m humbled. My year as a Queen was a mixture of different feelings, there were ups and downs, tears and happiness, bumpy roads, dead ends, encouragements, words of wisdom, made friends and lost friends, love, stress, pressure, sleepless nights, disappointments, recognition and fulfillment. But at the end I am victorious and there can only be thanks giving to God Almighty for life, good health and a successful reign.”

Being a queen for a year was not a bed of cherries for her, it was an opportunity to learn a whole lot. The experience drew her closer to the harsh realities of life. She witnessed the sufferings of people and the anguish of the less privileged. It was a rare chance to be a mother to the motherless and a friend to the needy. She seized this opportunity to initiate many projects. Some of which include the Renovation of Schools and the Renovation of the dilapidated Emir's place in Karamajiji Disabled Colony, at Garki Abuja. She further held out to society through her Peace Education Campaign that cut across 4 South-Eastern states in Nigeria (Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Abia).

Peace is never too much for the world, which is why she has launched her campaigns on higher platforms. According to her, “It’s true my tenure as Queen under the umbrella of the Peace Ambassador Agency is over, but I plan to take Peace Internationally. So, keep your fingers crossed. By God's grace, I promise to never disappoint you all.” She also used the opportunity to appreciate the efforts of her family, her friends and her fans. In parting, she left with her successor the greatest gift of all, a cherished and hearty prayer to emulate her predecessors and even do better.

A seed that will grow far is known from the early days of germination. What we have witnessed at Sheraton Hotel was not a goodbye to Queen Jennifer Okafor. It was the coronation of a radiant model that will pioneer a new era in the modeling industry. Our only prayer is that the funfare, the joy and the love she has known thus far, be an ever-sounding melody that will lead her path until she shoots a shining light that will change the game in her field, for all time.