By Gracious Akujobi
Preparations have commenced in earnest for the maiden National Sports Beauty and Style Pageant christened, “Face of Mark-D-Ball”.
The event being organized by Marks Sports Foundation in collaboration with Debonaire Concept and Entertainment fixing is designed to be an annual event.
A statement issued on Saturday by James Oche, Media Co-coordinator of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the event said “the idea was to showcase the new face of sports in Nigeria.
“Our target is to use the platform of the pageant to renew our hope. It is also to create a new face for our nation.
“We also want to use it to rekindle our spirit and belief that although Nigeria is walking at the moment through the valleys of pains and discomfort, surely this moment shall pass away someday.
“We believe in collective struggle to guarantee that Nigeria’s future is that `period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured’’.
Oche further stated that the grand finale of the beauty show has been fixed for December 30 in Otukpo, Benue State, while the screening exercise would commence in Abuja in October.
“The star prize is a brand new car plus cash prize, while the first and second runners up will go home with mouth watering cash prize and scholarship respectively.
“The crowned winner is expected to represent the country in the 2013 Edition of the Miss International to be hosted in Okinawa Japan.
“Interested contestants are directed to The Face of Mark-D-Ball websitewww.markdball.org.ng to download the forms.
“Forms are also available at some strategic places across the states of the Federation,’’ Oche added in a statement.
Oche was also quoted in the statement as saying that the sports beauty show would parade cultural content that reflects the new African thinking and approach to beauty pageant.
He also stated that the sports beauty pageant would trail the Mark-D-Ball basketball tournament held annually during the Christmas period, in Otukpo, Benue.