Peter Mbah, the Enugu governor, has appointed Chidimma Adetshina, the South African-born Nigerian model, as the state ambassador.
On Thursday, Mbah hosted the reigning Miss Universe Nigeria and her father Okechukwu Onwe at the government house in Enugu.
During the visit, the governor praised Chidimma’s “resilience and determination”, describing her as a “true representation of the people of Enugu”.
Mbah emphasized Chidimma’s potential to inspire young people, sharing her experiences and encouraging them to pursue their goals.
He also assured the state government’s support for her upcoming participation in the international Miss Universe pageant in Mexico.
“Your story is inspiring. You could see that despite all attempts to malign and discourage you, you demonstrated that you are a true daughter of Enugu State. You overcame those challenges with the grit and resilience the people of Enugu State are known for,” he said.
“With the height and the feat you have attained today, you can act as a major influence to our young people, girls in particular. We will look at how you could engage some of our young people, share your experience, what you have been through, and how you got to where you are today. Sharing that will be quite inspiring and encouraging.”
On her part, Chidimma expressed gratitude to the people of Enugu for their warm welcome. She commended Mbah for prioritizing education in the state. She also stated her readiness to serve as a beacon of hope to young women.
“I do feel that my story is a very powerful one, not only in Nigeria but all over the world. A lot of youths can resonate with my story and they can learn from my journey,” she said.
Chidimma was born in 2001 in Soweto at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Her father hails from Enugu while some reports said her mother is a Mozambican who had become a naturalized citizen of South Africa
The model sparked controversy during this year’s Miss South Africa pageant due to her nationality.
This attracted criticism on social media, especially from South Africans. Chidimma would later withdraw from the Miss South Africa contest.
Her withdrawal came after the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for South Africa alleged that preliminary evidence suggests Chidimma’s mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.
Addressing the allegations, Chidimma said: “I didn’t steal anyone’s identity”.
On August 14, she accepted the invitation to participate in this year’s Miss Universe Nigeria pageant. She was later crowned winner of the pageant.
She also dismissed insinuations that she won the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant “out of pity”.
Chidimma argued that she went through the same rigorous experience as all contestants, adding that “I worked hard to earn my title”.
By Pelumi Bolawa @TheCable
