By Jonathan Ugbal, Government House Correspondent
Cross River State Government and Silverbird Group, yesterday signed a 4-year management contract for the hosting of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), at the prestigious five thousand seat capacity Calabar International Convention Center (CICC).
According to the agreement, Calabar will play host to both the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) and the maiden edition of Miss Africa Beauty Pageant owned by the Cross River State Government.
Miss Africa Beauty Pageant, which will be managed by Silverbird Group; and MBGN will be hosted at CICC in October and December this year respectively.
Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony at the CICC, Calabar, the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade maintained that “Silverbird has the capacity and expertise to manage the center as well as organize the pageants because they are the nation’s number one in the entertainment industry.”
According to the governor, “It is a four-year contract subject to renewal, but I know they have all it takes to manage the edifice as well as organize the pageants.”
He added that by this vista of opportunities, “Calabar has taken its place as the destination for tourism and entertainment.”
An elated Ayade said: “With the hosting of the two pageants show in October and December respectively, Cross Riverians and indeed Nigerians should key into it and make the best use of it because they will attract the whole world to the state.”
He observed that though work is still in progress on site, the facility will be ready for MBGN in October as assured by the contractors who were busy putting finishing touches on the massive convention center.
Earlier, Group Vice President, Silverbird Group, Mr. Guy Murrày-Bruce, who was overwhelmed by the architectural masterpiece, described the CICC as “the best of its kind in Africa,” adding that “this is second to none. This is terrific.”
Murray-Bruce said the pageants would enable the state showcase its enormous tourism potentials to the whole world with a view to attracting tourists for economic gains.
His words: “I am not only impressed about what I have seen today but overwhelmed for Calabar and Africa for this is the best destination to be and one has to travel wide to know. It is beautiful and scenic, I must confess.”
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