The current Miss World Africa, Onyekachi Douglas on Wednesday said
extracurricular activities were also as important as academics for the success
of youths in the jet age.
The beauty queen, also the current Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, (MBGN)
spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
She said that there was need to build a child’s creative skills alongside
academic pursuit for a balanced upbringing.
“We need to empower the youth and educate our children. We should also
create an enabling environment where children can build both their creative
and educational ability.
“It is important to be academically sound in school and it is also very
important to nurture our talents and skills because there are many ways to
success.
“I want the younger ones to explore all the options they can because putting all
eggs in one basket may lead to disappointment,” she said.
Douglas further urged the government to create an enabling environment for
the youths to discover and showcase their talents through academic and extra-
curricular activities.
“Government should take a cue from the MBGN platform Silverbird has
created. Invest more in enabling initiatives for youths to explore their talents
in a safe and secure environment.
“Not just in pageants, there are lots of talents and creative skills in our
Nigerian youths that should be encouraged and promoted,” she said.
She further urged Nigerians to focus on their goals and commended the
Silverbird Group and Bayelsa State Government, for giving her a platform to
express her talent, which had brought pride to the country.
“I want Nigerians to focus and keep working towards their goals and avoid
distractions from any angle.
“Sometimes it might seem like everything is not working out or going the way
you want it to but I want them to know that everything happens for a reason
and there is a greater plan ahead that they can’t see at present.
“I have no idea I was going to represent Nigeria last year at the Miss World
pageant because I thought I had better plans for myself.
“But what l thought could be a disappointment turned out to be the greatest
blessing in my life.
“Thanks to the Silverbird Group and Bayelsa State government for the MBGN
platform and other organisers of creative programmes for youth
development,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Douglas after winning the
MBGN 2019 in Bayelsa State, also represented Nigeria at the 2019 edition of
the Miss World pageant which took place in London.
She won Miss World Africa 2019, Miss World Top Model, Miss World Sports
1st runner-up 2019, Beauty with a Purpose top 10 finalist, Beauty Talent Top
27 finalist and Head to Head Challenge Group Winner.
Onyekachi Douglas’ energetic celebration of Miss World winner, Miss
Jamaica, whom she described as her sister, also earned her accolades from her
fans which trended on social media platforms for days.
