Top music artistes including Zlatan, Perruzi and Patoranking, are among celebrities lined up to thrill guests at the 2019 Miss Africa pageantry in Calabar on Dec. 27.
Cross Rivers, the host state government, said in a statement that the pageantry, which promises to be a night of thrills and suspense, would hold at the Calabar International Convention Centre.
Mathias Amgbah, media aide to Governor Ben Ayade, said the contestants from across Africa would enter a battle of wits on stage to win a brand new car and $50,000 in cash, among other prizes.
He said the winner would become the new face of hope to lead a campaign for issues affecting Africa and Africans.
“The rave of the moment Zlatan will be performing at the star studded event, alongside African raggae king, Patoranking; DMW star, Perruzi; African queen, Victoria Kimani; blast from the past, Style Plus, and a host of others.
“We have Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Joselyn Dumas as hosts and celebrity judges, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Enyinna Nwigwe, Millen Magese, Owen Omogiafi and Pearl Modiadie,” he said.
Amgbah said that Ayade will lead a delegation of high-profile guests from the political and corporate class to witness the ceremony.
“There will be a live stream online on YouTube and all our social media channels.
“We will also broadcast live on DSTV Channel 198 to keep millions of viewers across Africa, who can also participate through voting, while glued to their screens for the historic grand finale of Miss Africa 2019 live from Calabar.
“The glitz and glamour begins on the green carpet, which will be hosted by Roby Ekpo and Wofai Fada, while compere and fashionista Ebuka will anchor the ceremony in company of beautiful Joselyn Dumas.
“Also, as usual, there will be a parte after parte with the creme de la creme of the industry, the immediate past, the reigning and newly crowned queens, alongside damsels from across Africa,” he said.
Amgbah assured that the event promises to be a night of fun extravaganza for guests and viewers, adding that voting is open for everyone to select favourite contestants.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
