The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on Nigerians to rally behind Nigeria’s representative at the Miss World pageant ongoing in Vietnam, Tamonosoye Karibi-George, as she progresses in the global competition.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim, in a message celebrating Karibi-George’s performance, said as a young Nigerian, she had proudly represented the country on the international stage.
Describing her as a symbol of intelligence, purpose, confidence and grace, the Minister said she was particularly impressed by Karibi-George before her departure for the competition, noting that her appeal went beyond physical beauty.
“Not simply because she is beautiful. But because when Soye speaks, there is substance behind her words. There is intelligence. There is thought. There is purpose,” she said.
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According to Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Karibi-George represents the kind of Nigerian woman young girls should aspire to become, combining beauty with brilliance, ambition with groundedness and confidence with purpose.
“She represents the kind of young Nigerian woman I want our girls to see and be reminded of, a woman who can be graceful and brilliant, beautiful and articulate, ambitious and grounded, all at once,” she said.
The Minister said Karibi-George had carried Nigeria with pride throughout the competition in Vietnam, promoting the country and showcasing the strength and potential of the Nigerian woman.
“She has carried Nigeria with an unmistakable pride. She has spoken about her country, celebrated her country and shown the world something beautiful about the Nigerian woman,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.
She congratulated Karibi-George on emerging as ‘Top Model for Africa and a Miss World Top 40 finalist’, describing the achievement as a source of pride for the country.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim, however, urged Nigerians not to stop at celebrating the beauty queen’s achievement but to actively support her by voting and mobilising others to do the same.
“Please vote for Soye. Share her story. Call someone. Send the link to your groups. Let Nigerians everywhere rally behind her,” she urged.
The Minister said supporting Karibi-George was also a way of demonstrating that Nigeria stood behind young people who represented the country with pride.
“Soye, you left home carrying Nigeria on your shoulders. Now let millions of Nigerians carry you the rest of the way,” she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim reaffirmed her confidence in Karibi-George, saying the beauty queen had already made the country proud through her performance and representation.
“Today, she is a Top Model for Africa and a Miss World Top 40 finalist, and I could not be prouder. We believed in you before you left our shores. We still believe in you, and whatever happens on that stage, know this: you have already made your country proud,” she declared.
