***Targets 1000 youths for empowerment

Cross River born model and stylist, Mercy Odey Abu has emerged victorious at the grand finale the 2022 Aso International beauty pageant contest which came to a closed on Friday.

The event held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Abuja, after one week in the camp.

Speaking with journàlists shortly after being crowned 2022 Miss Aso International Beauty Queen, Odey Abu said she started her modeling career in 2014 by registering with a modeling agency in Cross River State, where she participated in her first beauty pageant contest for Cross River Most Beautiful Girl.

Odey Abu though she did not make it to the top ten or win any crown, the experience molded her through her modeling journey, after which she did some modeling commercials. According to her,She also
contested in 2017 for Miss GoodWill Ambassador in Abuja and came first, where she reigned as the Queen for two years.

On what it feels like being a Beauty Queen, she said contrary to the belief by many that it is a ticket to glamour, being a Beauty Queen is an office to work and serve humanity, adding that it has given her an opportunity to inspire people and also be inspired.

While disclosing that her late mum motivated her so much in her endeavor by always encouraging her, the Miss Aso International 2022 promised to serve humanity better with the crown and to also broaden her horizon as an entrepreneur in Real Estate business.

She said the victory would also be used as an opportunity to empower young people numbering over one thousand in the acquisition of various skills like shoe making, fashion designing, make up and real estate.

The Linguistics and Communication Studies graduate of the University of Calabar, also revealed that it would be her Corporate Social Responsibility project to empower young people aged between 17 and 25 with skills that can fetch them money even while in school.

According to her, “I prioritise education. I love people being aware of their environment. By education, I mean helping people with the knowledge that will help them in their field of endeavor, be it in real estate, fashion designer, or as a public relations strategist.

“So, I’m going to use this platform to educate people in these three different aspects that I am involved in. In fashion, I’m going to seek sponsorship and collaboration so that I can empower as much people as I can to learn this craft.

“I’m targeting young people, especially those who are leaving secondary School first, because I think the earlier our youths know that they are capable of generating something for themselves, the better for them than to be used as tools for evil.”

She said the empowerment programme, which will involve both gender, will recruit about one thousand youths from public secondary schools and orphanage homes, who will participate in seminars from which those with interest in either fashion designing, real estate and HR, can get the opportunity to be linked to volunteers who will train them in such areas.

According to her, the pilot programme commencing in December, is designed to benefit youths in Abuja, Lagos and Cross River States, while other states will benefit in subsequent packages.

Meanwhile, her interest is in traveling and listening to good music, just as her best food is yam prepared in any form, but her ideal man of her heart is a God fearing, hard-working guy, who is emotionally intelligent enough to know when she is hurt and to avoid it.