It was indeed an epic evening at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers Abuja, Nigeria as the Miss UN-World Habitat Gala and Award Ceremony took center stage. The event which was packed with high level dignitaries both home and abroad is still been regarded as one of the most organized and well planned event in the history of pageantry in Nigeria. Being the 1st edition, one would have expected a low turnout, but surprisingly the hall was packed fill and the organizers even had to bring in more seats to accommodate the relentless crowd that kept pouring in. This year, the World Habitat Day was celebrated on Monday, October 3, 2016 and to commemorate that day the Nigeria Youth Habitat Network in Partnership with Enohillz Global Limited organized what can only be describe as the grandeur of events.

The grand event feature an Award Presentation to selected few individuals, Corporate Organizations and Government Institutions. Among the award recipients were; Dr Mike Omotosho, Founder/President, Mike Omotosho Foundation, US Representatvie, Hon. Erica Thomas, GA 39, Georgia, USA, Hon. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, GA 91, Georgia, USA, Infinity Humanitarian Foundation, Hon. Usman Abubakar, Eric Igban Foundation, Ace Comedian, I GO DYE, Hon. Hamisu Danlawan, Amb. Rachel Bakam, Amb. John Fashanu, Rev. Fr. Dr. Christopher Amaubosi, HRH Dr. Jafaru Dambazau Bello, FUNTAJ International School Ltd.

The event featured Ace Comedian, I GO DYE, Paul Play Dairo, Empress Nyammah, Andy Gabriel, Ghana Must Go, Gully Ryda, Emi Jackson, Stainless CFRN etc.

The Miss UN-World Habitat Gala and Award Ceremony was organized to mark the October 3rd World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all, to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat, with wide range of activities in which all Stakeholders, Governments, International Community, Organized Private Sectors and Non-Governmental Organizations are involved.

The project director Amb. Hillary Emoh who said: ‘‘The objective of the pageant is to see how best we can bring Young People especially Females, with Beauty and Brain closer to the United Nations System and to constantly appreciate the effort of certain Individuals, Organizations, Corporate Bodies that have been in the for-front of addressing peculiar and generic issues affecting Urbanization, Environment and Humanitarianism’’

Impressively one of the contestants happened to be from the IDP camps in Abuja. She was sponsored by Amb. Rachel Bakam. Although she didn’t win in the top five, but she was groomed and performed very well at the grand finale. The essence was to show love and support to the people living at the IDP camps and to extend a hand of fellowship. The Project Director, Amb. Hillary Emoh said in an interview that one of the core objectives of the Project is to draw more intention to the very very poor living standards of the people in the IDP camps. He said that the Queen’s Pet Project will be centered more on how to alleviate the living condition of the people at the IDP camps and to also encourage the youths to return back to school with a project term ‘‘Help me Get Back to School’’ initiative. He also said that several other projects will be flag off soon that will also center on the IDP camps.

The 1st Edition of the Miss UN-World Habitat 2016 Nigeria held on Oct 2nd, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers Abuja, Nigeria, 2016, to Commemorate the United Nations - World Habitat Day which comes up first Monday of October every year.
elthonio