Queen Ogunwusi stated this on Monday while briefing newsmen during the auditioning of the contestants for the 2022 edition of the pageant held at the Ile Oodua, Ooni's Palace in Ile-Ife.
According to Queen Ogunwusi, there is an urgent need to change the narrative of how women are perceived in the society as merely mothers and subordinates to their male counterparts.
She added that women, particularly the young ones need a platform to be groomed, nurtured and inspired for the tasks ahead and this gave birth to the initiative, using the story of the legendary Queen Moremi of Ile-Ife.
The wife of the foremost traditional ruler who is also the Founder and CEO of the Adire Oodua Textile Hub in the ancient city, Queen Ogunwusi further stated that the initiative since inception has been yielding desired results, turning out on yearly basis exceptional true queen figures who are found worthy in character, wisdom and charisma.
Queen Ogunwusi acknowledged the invaluable role of her husband and grand patron of the QMA initiative, His Imperial Majesty, the Arole Oduduwa, Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife who conceived the idea of the project as well as the matron, Chief (Mrs) Olufunso Amosun.
"The Reason why we are doing this cultural and leadership pageant is to inspire young women to become involved in leadership. We want to see more female senators, we want to see female governors and even see female presidents if possible.
"But you know we have to groom them from the beginning and His Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II is at the forefront of using the story of Moremi to inspire young women to take up more leadership roles. He uses it to support the right of the girl child in Nigeria, making sure that they get education, inspiring young women to go into female leadership positions and at the same time celebrate women who are braking barriers in their various industries.
"It is all about promoting leadership among young women. You know in Nigeria, Africa and even globally, women are always regarded as individuals who are meant to be limited in thought, dreams and aspirations but what we are doing at QMA Initiative is to change that narrative and let the world know that yes, as a woman you can be a mother and a leader as well.
"Year in year out, His Majesty and our Matron, Chief (Mrs) Olufunso Amosun support this initiative. The winner goes home with a car and One million naira cash while the second and third positions will go home with Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand and Five Hundred Thousand Naira respectively.", she said.
The contest with this Year's theme as "Breaking The Bias of Female Leadership", she added is not limited to participants from Nigeria alone but open to young Yoruba women from World over.
"As we all know, the Yoruba and culture spans beyond Nigeria. We have Brazil, Cuba, the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago. So we are not limiting participation to Yoruba girls Nigeria alone but make it open to all Yoruba girls from across the "Globe.
"After the audition today, we will pick the best 25 contestants and put them in a Booth Camp for about ten days during which they will undergo various training activities and skill acquisition ranging from leadership, culture as well as going on excursions after which there will be an eviction before the Grand Finale when the winner will emerge.", She added.
Prominent Nollywood Stars including Laide Bakare, Tunde Adeyemo, Fagboyo Bamidele, Nkechi Blessing, Bidemi Adisa, graced the occasion as Judges and are equally expected at the Grand Finale scheduled for 3rd December, 2022 at the Ojaja Arena inside Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial Park, Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife.
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