Pageant Queen joins Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire in fight against human trafficking, prostitution

Reigning Miss World Tourism Nigeria, Tijani Khadijat Omowunmi said she is ready to collaborate with the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire in the fight against human trafficking and prostitution.

She made her stance known during a courtesy visit to the office of the President of the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire, Chief Michael Emeka Onwuchelu on Wednesday.

The Pageant Queen said she was excited to meet with the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire. She noted that her visit is to first of all familiarize with the Community and know the area where she can collaborate with them to project Nigeria’s image in good light.

Queen Khadijat also promised to work with them to achieve their desired goals and objectives especially in the fight against human/child trafficking and prostitution.

Her words, “As the reigning Queen, I want to see how we can work together to project our beautiful country, Nigeria and its tourism attractions to Nigerians in Diaspora who were born outside and have not been home before. It is also an avenue to project our beautiful country to non-Nigerians who might be looking for where to spend their yuletide holidays. As for the human/child trafficking and prostitution, I am ready to collaborate with you to see how we can put a stop to it because it is not projecting what our great country is all about.”

Welcoming the Pageant Queen, Chief Onwuchelu said he was happy to welcome her on behalf of the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire. While commending her for the feat achieved, he however informed her of the menace causing serious damage to the image of Nigeria and Nigerians in Cote d’Ivoire. Onwuchelu said they have been fighting hard to put an end to it.

He said, “We are happy to receive you in our midst. However, we have been on the issue of human trafficking and prostitution for a long time and we have not gotten any help from anywhere but with the office you are occupying now, you can use it to get attention of the relevant authorities in government to intervene.

Chief Onwuchelu continued, “Human trafficking and child prostitution have been existing for long not only in Cote d’Ivoire but across all the West Africa regions. We have been able to rescue and repatriate about 1,200 girls back to Nigeria and reconcile them with their families.

“We would have loved to have you during the country’s 64th Independence Day Celebration but we intend to invite for our Cultural Day where all Nigerian tribes will showcase their heritage and that would be a great time for you to project yourself to the community,” he disclosed.

Also speaking during the visit is the Proprietress of Love Foundation International School, Port Bouet, Mrs Loveth Udeogu who incidentally was a Pageant Queen. She urged the Miss Tourism Queen to use her office judiciously for the emancipation of the girl child especially those being trafficked and forced into prostitution.

Mrs Udeogu further noted, “We all are sitting on the stones carved by someone. Why don’t we come together and carve something for the younger ones?

“I am so delighted to be part of this and seeing something like this is an inspiration for our kids. Tomorrow you can host a Pageant for our kids here in Abidjan. So I am pleading with you to showcase your crown. Whenever we have school events, like the Children’s Day, you would be invited to be our Special Guest so that you can motivate our children. So do well to identify with the Nigerian Community and the president, Chief Michael Emeka Onwuchelu,” she advised.

Also on hand to receive the pageant Queen is the general secretary of the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire, Chief Louis Ononiwu and the chairman of Abobo Community, Lasisi Jimoh Alabi.

L-R: Chairman, Abobo Community, Mr. Lasisi Jimoh Alabi, President of the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire, Chief Michael Emeka Onwuchelu, Queen Khadijat Tijani and the General Secretary, Chief Louis Ononiwu