The organizers of the Face of Niger Delta Cultural Pageant (FONDCUP) on Monday officially unveiled Kasi Usani winner of the cultural beauty pageant to the media.
The convener of the beauty pageant, Elizabeth Era who is also the first-ever FONDCUP queen in 2004 stated that Kasi emerged as the winner after assessment of the girls right from when they entered the camp. She said that all the different tasks the maidens performed while in camp as well the public and judges’ votes scores were put together. And at the end, Kasi had the highest scores.
In her address, Kasi admitted that emerging as the face of FONDCUP was not an easy feat. According to the 21-year-old beauty queen, “I am truly grateful to God Almighty and very glad that I emerged the Face of Niger Delta Cultural Pageant 2021/2022. It was not an easy feat, but God Almighty crowned my effort with success. I feel extremely happy for this platform and pledge to utilize it to the best of my ability, GOD willing.”
Speaking on her pet project as FONDCUP queen and Kindness Ambassador 2021/2022, she said she is focused on spreading the kindness virus as well as providing sanitary towels for young maidens in the Niger Delta region.
“My pet project as the FONDCUP queen and Kindness Ambassador 2021/2022, is to spread the kindness virus, preach peace and show love to our people through enlightenment campaigns, empowerment projects and events that would also unite us as a people. I Kasi Usani, would want to show to the country and the entire world, that Niger Deltans are wonderful, creative, intelligent, hardworking and peace loving people.
Continuing, the elated queen said, “Also, it has always been my dream to provide sanitary towels for young maidens in the Niger Delta region, especially those in the rural areas and slumps, who can’t afford sanitary towels. I have tried to carry out research in my own little way, and what I found, was really overwhelming and heartbreaking. Young girls use rags as sanitary pads and most of them contract STDs and infections due to their poor menstrual hygiene during their monthly circle. Some of them stay at home for the number of days their flow last. These to me is really disturbing. menstruation can negatively affect women’s health, productivity, as well as their involvement in social and economic activities.”
She however pleaded with firms and manufacturers of sanitary towels to support her pet project to fulfil her dreams of providing sanitary towels to young maidens in the Niger Delta region.
“I, therefore, want to use my office to appeal to firms and manufacturers of sanitary towels, to support me in my-Save-the-Girl-Child-Hygiene campaign project which will take place in the 9 states of the Niger Delta region. I also would want to solicit support, from corporate bodies and government parastatals both at the local, state and national levels, to assist me in achieving my objectives and impacting lives, especially the downtrodden and less privileged in the Niger Delta Region. “
She however assured that as FONDCUP queen, she would fulfil her duties as well as live up to her responsibilities. Adding that it is a new dawn for the Niger Delta people.
Steve Onyemah of World Kindness Initiative Nigeria, one of the sponsors of the cultural beauty pageant stated that Kasi’s job as Kindness Ambassador is to go into the Niger Delta to promote kindness aside from culture.
Also, at the unveiling of the FONDCUP queen were the first runner up, Miss Faith Iguodala Etinosasere and second runner up, Miss Grace Ekrakene.
As the first runner up, Miss Faith Iguodala Etinosasere will work with telecommunication companies as the TV show host of FONDCUP project on the culture and tradition of the Niger Delta region for a period of one year while Miss Grace Ekrakene from Delta state, with a different portfolio, will carry out projects as the face of FONDCUP Tourism.
21-year-old Kasi, an undergraduate of Lagos State Polytechnic, represented Cross River State in the just concluded FONDCUP 2021 pageant.
Kasi beat 8 other contestants from the other Niger Delta states, to emerge the winner of the coveted contest held recently at the Duellaz event Centre, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.
