Bayelsa set to sign pact with Silverbird group on MBGN sponsorship
...As Guy Bruce hails Dickson for being most gender friendly governor
The Bayelsa State Government is set to sign a bilateral agreement with Silver bird Group, organisers of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, MBGN Pageant to ensure continuity of the annual event at the expiration of the restoration government.
Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State dropped the hint today during a thank you visit to Government House, embarked by Silverbird Group, organizers of the competition ahead of the grand finale of this year’s MBGN billed to take place in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He said, “Tomorrow I hope to be there with you on the last pageant I will be hosting as governor”, but was quick to add that, “But this will not be the last pageant that Bayelsa will be hosting hopefully. Our plan is for Bayelsa to be known nationally and Internationally as the headquarters of tourism and entertainment and show business.
“This is the Florida of Africa. And so in the course of this visit, I intend to sign an agreement with the Silverbird group committing the government of this state even after my tenure every year to be hosting the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria show”, he stated
He said documentation would be ready the next day for both parties to peruse, while actual signing of the agreement was expected to take place on Friday, asserting that, “So if there is any state out there wishing to host this show, well you’re too late because every year all those who want to be part of this event would have to come to Bayelsa”.
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He described Bayelsa as the most peaceful and stable state and expressed willingness to grant full citizenship to all the 37 contestants.
“While I was coming in, a lot of young people were milling around there and wait in to come in and they asked me to say that all of you the girls that even at the end of this event that they will like me to grant you citizenship of Bayelsa.
The Governor, while welcoming the Silverbird MBGN team to Yenagoa, remarked that ” I’d like to commend Silverbird for being ambassadors of this great state. We are a state of great and wonderful people, a state of good things, a state where wonderful plans come out from.”
“Its gratifying to note that Silverbird has pioneered the way in the past 32 years in Nigeria and Africa. As you all know, our governments is not just building schools. Its not just building hospitals, not just building roads. We are not just investing in peace and stability. We are also showcasing our state and making the investments in that direction.”
He said his administration in the last seven and half years has been “bringing the world to Bayelsa and taking Bayelsa to the world thus creating the basis for tourism because “that is a thriving industry where we want Bayelsa to be number one in the whole country.”and thanked the Silverbird Group for being as he put it, “wonderful partners”
Vice President of Silverbird Group and organizers of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2019 pageant, Mr Guy Murray Bruce in his opening remarks, described His Excellency Governor Henry Seriake Dickson as the most gender friendly Governor who has supported the hosting of the competition in the last four episodes.
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Bruce who is Special Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and tourism, commended the Governor for his unwavering support to the hosting and success of the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019 editions, stated that, “At no time time since the commencement of the MBGN in 1986 has any governor hosted four consecutive editions”
He disclosed that the winner of the MBGN 2019 would emerge from among the 37 contestants and was expected to represent Nigeria in the Miss World Beauty Pageant in London later this year, describing the MBGN as the single largest beauty pageant in Africa.
In the same vein, Commissioner for Tourism Development, Mrs. Ebiere Irene Ajuwa Musa noted that restoration government of Governor Dickson has empowered more women than any other administration in the country, and thanked him for his unwavering support in hosting the MBGN.
“His Excellency has empowered more women than any other governor thereby celebrating womenhood in its totality. The girls are here to say thank you to His Excellency for the support to the MBGN. Thank you for your support, for standing by the girl child and championing the cause of womanhood in the entire country”
The contestants, all thanked Governor Dickson for the opportunity to interact with him and be informed of the significant strides achieved by his administrations and the vast opportunities that abound in for tourism and talent development.
The event which took place in the Governor’s Conference room in Government House had key players in the restoration government in attendance including the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Bolo Obubo, member Board of Trustees of the PDP, Hon. Mrs. Remi Kuku, Chief Special Adviser on Investment and International Affairs, Mrs. Funkazi Koroye amongst others.
