L-R Zoe Enabs (Miss Independence Nigeria Tourism), Enwereji Victoria (Miss Independence Nigeria Peace), Nneze Richards (Miss Independence Nigeria 2015 Queen), Lucy Egbene Ebute (Outgoing Queen), Suzan O. Michael (Miss Independence Culture), Linda Eze (Miss Independence Nigeria Unity)

Femi Ipaye/Abuja

Nneze Richards,  a 22 year-old graduate of accountancy from Enugu State University of Science and technology has joined the league of Nigeria’s  beauty queens as she emerged the winner of Miss Independence Nigeria beauty pageant held in Abuja on Friday, 30 October.

The Enugu State born beauty queen who won the star prize of the competition, a Toyota Corolla car, represented the Federal Capital Territory, FCT in the glamorous beauty contest organised by Abuja based Link-Up Entertainment Company.

The pageant was graced by top entertainment personalities, including popular comedian, Klint da Drunk, and leading Nollywood actors like Femi Branch and Sir Sidney Diala.

Nneze Richards, Miss Independence Nigeria 2015 Queen, right

The first runner up in the beauty pageant, 21 year-old  Susan Michael,  from Ogoja Cross River State was crowned Miss Independence Nigeria Culture, a position which has now confirmed her as the country’s culture ambassador.

Michael who also represented Cross River State in the pageant is a second year student of International Studies at  Federal University, Lokoja.

 The second runner up was 24 years old Zoe Enabs, from Edo state, who also represented her state in the contest. The final year student of University of Benin was crowned Miss Independence Nigeria Tourism.

Linda Nnamonu, of Link -Up Entertainment told journalists that the company took up the challenge of organizing  Miss Independence Nigeria Beauty contest seven years ago to promote Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, her colourful costumes, unity, patriotism, peace and to celebrate the country’s vibrant youths to mark the annualOctober 1st Independence Day.

According to her, the  pageant which is meant to be an annual affair is just one of the worthy causes to which Link-Up Entertainment organization is committed .

‘We are also committed to promotion of education with special target on rural areas. Our target is to help upgrade standard of education given to the children living in rural areas through our outreach programme “Outreach to Children in Rural Area”  (YOCRA)’, Nnamonu said.