Mr.
Richard Njoku is the brain behind Miss Imo beauty pageant
2014. He is a graduate of Project Management from Federal University of
Technology Owerri (FUTO). The young entrepreneur is passionate about youth
development, in his quest to lend capacity to the youths in the crowded
entertainment industry, he ventured into pageantry and has not looked back.
In
this chat with Chinwe Uzoechi, Njoku talks about new grounds broken and
commitments in raising the bar in the pageant industry.
What’s
new about Miss Imo?
Formally
it was a state project but my company has acquired it (Calcomel Ltd) in
association with Trademark-PR. It has been restructured and repackaged into
something far much more engaging, enterprising and a transformed youth
enhancement social responsibility. It is also a community care-giving project.
It is more like a movement not really pageantry.
How
do you intend to achieve all these?
By
holding series of workshop and seminar, while soliciting help with some NGOs
abroad. This is actually going to be the work of the Queen; it is no longer
queen as usual.
She
is going to be engaged in a lot of work, as the theme of this year’s pageantry
is tagged “A woman’s worth” The queen will have fliers, pamphlets that will
give an insight about the issues women suffer in the society such as rape, girl
child discrimination, wife battery and also will encourage women leadership.
You
sound passionate about youth transformation?
Oh
Yes! because I am also a youth, in this part of the world, we lack mentorship,
no continuity; the older ones find it hard to mentor the younger ones, so I
intend using this platform to help the youths find their feet.
Any
other plans
A
project has been created that is attached to the crown, called Imo Youth
Entrepreneurship Scheme (Imo-YES) in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s
“You Win” programme. This is to help the youths acquire and horn their skills
in order to stop leveraging on the government for white collar jobs, but
becoming powerful entrepreneurs.
How
long will it take to achieve all these?
It
is going to be an annual event; every queen that emerges will carry it on. Next
year’s theme is tagged “Fight Against Breast and Cervical Cancer” so it is
going to be a yearly thing.
What
motivates you?
The
crave for excellence in all I do; I am my greatest critic, instead of crying
over my mistakes, I learn through them. Also, the joy and peace I get seeing
smiles on people’s faces.
How
have you done that in the past?
There
are about eleven (11) up-coming companies under our mentorship; also the Niger
Delta Peace Concert was under my care in 2009/2010.
I
was also the Pageant Director in Miss Heartland when it was under the
state government. I have lots of other projects I have done in Lagos because
that is where I am based though I am from Imo State.
About
the pageantry
The
forms are on sale on-line and in our office at 151 Okigwe Road, Orji. Our
website is www.missimo.org, also you can reach us on facebook
at www.facebook.com/missimo official or on twitter @missimo
official.
The
ticket will start selling from 2nd week of next month, because the
event is scheduled to hold on 24th December, 2014 and the after party on 27th
of the same month. Every information is available in the following address I
mentioned above.
The
2nd runner-up will be given LED flat screen television and hundred
thousand naira (N100,000). The 1st runner up will be given large
refrigerator and two hundred thousand naira (N200,000) while the queen that’s
the winner will be given a brand new car, a cheque of N500,000 (five hundred
thousand) and endorsement deals throughout her reign.
Any
challenges?
Finance
is our major challenge, we are open for sponsors, so we encourage organization
and good people of Imo State to support the event in any way they can. We don’t
want to rely solely on the state government because that was why the pageant
couldn’t hold in 2011.
I
have spent fourteen (14) years in the media and entertainment industry.
How
do you unwind?
For
the past two years, I have not really had time for myself, it has been from one
project to another, I really need a vacation, I have been telling myself so for
long now. But I relax with kids; I love children a lot, staying around them
gives me joy.
Are
you married?
No
Are
you in any relationship?
Not
really, because I just broke up with the one I had before now, so I am taking
my time, I am not in a hurry to start any soon, no time for that now.
Your
ideal woman
She
must possess the three (3) Bs; Beauty, Brain and Benevolence.
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