The organisers of Miss Nigeria have celebrated Grace Atinuke Oyelude, the first-ever winner of the beauty pageant, ahead of her 93rd birthday.
Oyelude will turn 93 on Thursday, November 16.
She won the maiden edition of the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant in 1957.
In a statement on Wednesday, Rita Dominic, the actress and chairman of Miss Nigeria 1957, described Oyelude as an “evergreen beauty”.
“We are immensely delighted to celebrate the evergreen beauty and brave leader, Chief Grace Atinuke Oyelude, on the occasion of her 93rd birthday,” the statement reads.
“Her courage, resolve and great strength of character are excellent qualities that have endeared her to us and many others.”
On his part, Fidelis Anosike, the chairman of Folio Communication and owner of Miss Nigeria 1957, said Oyelude is “a mother par excellence and a trailblazer for women empowerment”.
Oyelude was born on November 16, 1931, in Sabon Gari, Kano to James and Martha Oyelude.
She contested with over 200 other Nigerian ladies and won the top prize. She would later use part of her 200 pounds prize money to travel to England where she studied nursing.
She worked briefly in England before returning to Nigeria to serve in various capacities.
Anosike had recently transferred the production of the Miss Nigeria Pageant to The Audrey Silva Company (TASC), owned by Dominic and Mildred Okwo.
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