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Black and beautiful Busayo Akintola was in the early hours of Sunday crowned the Miss Gateway 2006 after emerging winner of a lively contest held inside the Broadcasting Hall of the Gateway Television, GTV in Abeokuta.
Black and beautiful Busayo Akintola was in the early hours of Sunday crowned the Miss Gateway 2006 after emerging winner of a lively contest held inside the Broadcasting Hall of the Gateway Television, GTV in Abeokuta.
Dignitaries from across the federation were at the event that began around 7pm in the evening, with star comedian, Ali Baba, as the compere. He made the night a laughter-filled one for guests as he dished out from his endless bag of jokes that left even Governor Gbenga Daniel and wife, Olufunke, reeling with mirth.
The contest was always going to be keenly-contested, as the contestants, who had undergone some programmes before the day with Yeye Olufunke Daniel ‘mothering' them, were primed for the night. The organizers, Gateway 2006 Games Commission, laid out an excellent night and all who were there had memories to take away.
Judges were eminent personalities like former Daily Times of Nigeria MD, Akogun Tola Adeniyi, Chief Tope Tokoya, Mrs Taiwo Adamson, Mrs Folake Marcus-Bello, Mrs Funmilayo Alakija and Mrs Olabosipo Ogunsan.
At the beginning of the finale, there were 24 beauty queens, but the surprise was some of them came from places as far away as Anambra, Abia, Enugu and Kogi states. How come? Was this not something for Ogun State indigenes? "Not exactly. The spirit of the Games is to unite the country through the National Sports Festival", said Commission vice-chairman, Abayomi Majekodunmi.
The night was spiced with entertainment with star musicians Orits Wiliki, Lanre Teriba (Atorise) and other comedians like M.C. Murphy and M.C. Alade on parade. Alhassan Yakmut, coordinator of Zone Five in the Sports and Social Development ministry and a member of the Main Organizing Committee, said: "The way Ogun State is going about this thing, we may find it difficult to find a state capable of keeping to the standard in the future. I have never seen a National Sports Festival around which there were so many programmes and with nine months left, the spirit is already upbeat. This is wonderful".
After a number of outings in different attires, the contestants were reduced to 10, with Elizabeth Fernandez, Kemi Dipo, Modupe Dada, Abimbola Ijale, Oluwaseyi Iriri, Olajumoke Irantiola, Ijeoma Ibemesi, Wuraola Balogun, and Busayo Akintola making it.
Kemi Dipo was selected Miss Photogenic, and also emerged first runner-up. The second runner-up was Abimbola Ijale, while Busayo Akintola was crowned queen in the early hours.
"I am overwhelmed', said the young lady. "This is a dream come true". Her designer, Joyce Yunusa, whose outfit is on Femi Ayantuga Street, off Adelabu Street in Surulere, Lagos, said: "This is amazing. I came all the way from Lagos to see this competition and I just had the belief that she would win.
"You know, she was not even going to contest until we pressurized her and one Ayo dropped out of the race for her. She is a gentle lady who is down-to- earth and she will surely lift the name of Ogun State high and help the organizers of the 2006 National Sports Festival to achieve their aims and objectives".