The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has appointed Chidimma Adetshina, the South African-born Nigerian model, as the state ambassador.
According to CABLES report, Mbah on Thursday hosted the reigning Miss Universe Nigeria and her father Okechukwu Onwe at the government house in Enugu.
During the visit, the governor emphasized that Chidimma has the potential to inspire young people by sharing her experiences.
Mbah said, “Your story is inspiring. You could see that despite all attempts to malign and discourage you, you demonstrated that you are a true daughter of Enugu State. You overcame those challenges with the grit and resilience the people of Enugu State are known for,” he said.
“With the height and the feat you have attained today, you can act as a major influence to our young people, girls in particular. We will look at how you could engage some of our young people, share your experience, what you have been through, and how you got to where you are today. Sharing that will be quite inspiring and encouraging.”
Chidimma on her part expressed gratitude to the people of Enugu for their warm welcome. She commended Mbah for prioritizing education in the state. She also stated her readiness to serve as a beacon of hope to young women.
“I do feel that my story is a very powerful one, not only in Nigeria but all over the world. A lot of youths can resonate with my story and they can learn from my journey,” she said.
Reports has it that Chidimma was born in 2001 in Soweto at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Her father hails from Enugu while some reports said her mother is a Mozambican who had become a naturalized citizen of South Africa.
Recall that the model sparked controversy during this year’s Miss South Africa pageant due to her nationality.
This attracted criticism on social media, especially from South Africans which forced her to withdraw from the pageant.
Following her withdrawal, the organizers of Miss Universe Nigeria pageant reached out to her asking if she would be interested to compete, Chidimma accepted the offer and won the crown.