Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre, under the control of DCP Ekpendu Lizzie I/C, Female Prison Lagos, hosted Nigeria’s first and only beauty pageant focused on corrections.
i. The Inmate Beauty Pageant, category
In an interview with our correspondent, DCP Ekpendu Lizzie said, “The main reason why I decided to put up this show is to change people’s narrative towards inmates across all correctional centers in Nigeria.”
“I am like a mother to them,” she said. My duty is to love and tolerate all the attitudes the inmates exhibit. An average correctional officer must exhibit the attitude of a mother, doctor, nurse, psychologist, midwife, pastor, imam, and the whole package, to mention but a few.””
The Inmate cartigory showcased 11 contestants representing the various cells in the female correctional centers, including an inmate who is a non-Nigerian who came in 2nd runner-up in the competition.”
Second runner-up with a consolation
Other female inmates who competed in the pageant were all dressed in dinner gowns with sashes supposedly representing their prison wards.
Among the fabrics paraded were hand-made materials made by the inmates.
The second face of the event is the Officers (Staff) Beauty Pageant competition, where 12 contestants compete in and under each of the units in the correctional center.
Mrs. Ann Enny Oduh, who represented the Catering Section, came second.
Rotimi Oladokun, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Prison Service, Lagos State Command, who spoke to journalists, confirmed that “the event took place in commemoration of International Women’s Day in the female custodial facility of the prison.
There were a series of events: talk shows, talent shows, music, comedy, and beauty pageants.
Commenting on the emergence of Chidinma as Miss Cell, Oladokun said, “I can’t comment on a particular winner because there were many winners.” Cell A may decide to sing, Cell B may decide to do a beauty pageant, while Cell C may decide to present a play. “
Maybe her own cell decided to present a pageant show and she won as a representative there. But as I said, there are other winners.
