Nom Fundo Mbagiwa, an 18-year-old beauty queen for Africa, who hails from South Africa, yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Yahya Jammeh, at State House.

Speaking to journalists, shortly after hours of discussion with the Gambian leader, Miss Africa Queen, said she was overwhelmed to meet President Jammeh, who has shown a real sense of Pan-africanism, love and appreciation to them.

The African Queen, said as a beauty queen, she has a lot of things in the pipeline concerning the women of Africa.  According to her, she started a project that aims to equip and empower women and children, who are the most vulnerable segment of society.   She added that the project will help the women to stand up to fight for their rights, feed themselves and face the challenges ahead.

Amie Khan, 22, the first runner-up of Miss Africa Queen and a Gambian, said her heart is full of joy and would thank President Jammeh for accommodating them.   She said her intention is to focus on young people, most especially the young girls, who normally become victims of teenage pregnancy, thus leading to  school drop-out.

She said, “young ladies get pregnant and later become drop-outs who have right to education.  We are the youth ambassadors of Africa and should be given room to upgrade them as the future leaders of the continent”.

On her part, Zynab Ayesha Passah, a Ghanaian also the Chief Executive Officer of XYZ Consortium Agency in Ghana and the organiser of the Africa Beauty Queen, said they came to visit the first runner-up and were privileged to meet President Jammeh.   She said the beauty contest was held on 8th September, 2007, in Accra Ghana, noting that it will facilitate African unity.

Ms. Passah, said the Miss Queen Pageant has a laudable and fruitful project for women.   She added that she was very emotional, which made her cry, because of the reception accorded to them.

  She then thanked President Jammeh for understanding their objectives as a patriot, who has the interest of Africans.

CEO Passah revealed that she was emotional too as African leaders have valued the trend she has undertaken, geared towards uniting the African continent.

She said President Jammeh had promised to sponsor the first ten contestants up to the PHD level and five more others to Master’s degree.   This, she said, is a laudable gesture from President Jammeh.

Adou Let-Sey, Director   for Africa Beauties Modelling Agency, said the pageant was organised by XYZ Consortium Agency, in Ghana, where Amie Khan   emerged second during the contest, noting that “this is the second time for such a laudable thing to be organised by XYZ, and with the approval of President Jammeh and his government the next beauty pageant will be conducted in The Gambia”.   She then pointed out that they are very proud with President Jammeh’s leadership qualities, and then added that he is a leader who has regards for women.

She also acknowledged that President Jammeh has promised to provide ten scholarships to the first fifteen winners.