Maria Okese, a photographer has emerged as the first winner of the Most Beautiful Deaf Girl in Nigeria Beauty Pageant (MBDGN), defeating 13 other contestants, The Nation reports.
The maiden MBDGN pageant which aims at promoting inclusivity was held at Standard Bearers School in Lekki, Lagos.
Okese will be representing Nigeria at the 2020 Miss Deaf World pageant in Prague, Czech Republic.
The contestants for the pageant were picked across 13 states, including Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Ogun, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Benue, Rivers, and Kwara.
According to Dr. Tolu Oke-Igaire and Uri Ngozi Chukwukwuka, the MBDGN organisers , the pageant was inspired by the signing of the disability bill, which led to the creation of a platform for canvassing inclusion for women with hearing and speech impairments in all spheres of the country as well as create awareness to their abilities and not their disabilities.
Speaking, Okese, a professional photographer said she would use her new position to create awareness on the issues of raising the standard of education for deaf children, and motivate them to contribute to the society.
She said “I would like to show Nigerians and non-Nigerians that irrespective of their limitations, they can become who they want to be”.
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