At the recent Ijakadi festival, a new Miss Arewa Offa emerged. The new Arewa, Mustapha Amidat Oluwaferanmi, in this interview with BIOLA AZEEZ, speaks about herself and her personality as a beauty pageant. Excerpts:
ARE you really the most beautiful girl in Offa?
First, I am Arewa Mustapha Amidat Oluwaferanmi, from Akingbasa Alowolodu family house. I am a graduate of Economics from Ekiti State University. I am by God’s grace the first born of my parent in a family of five.
Without fear of contradiction, I can tell you that Offa is the home of beautiful and intelligent people. I am not the most beautiful girl in Offa. My emergence is God’s grace; most importantly, because I prayed about it and God listened to my prayer. Secondly, I have been in similar contests and won. So my previous experience is an added advantage. If you were at the night of the contest, you will see that Arewa contest was a parade of beauty, talent and elegance. We all worked hard but it is often said that the horse is prepared for the day of battle, but who wins is an act of God. No man can be anything without God’s permission. Alhamdulilah, I owe my emergence to Almighty Allah, who endowed me and gave me the courage to even come out to participate. Many that are more beautiful and more intelligent didn’t come out. Nothing happens outside of God’s plan.
Most parents don’t welcome the idea of their daughter going into pageantry competitions, how did you convince your parents?
My parents are well civilised; we are very civilized in my family. My mom is an Ijesha woman, you know Ijesha are known for industry and hard work. So, I am a perfect combination of these two great kingdoms. My parents gave me their backing because they trust me and showed their love by supporting me.
What will you do as Arewa of Offa?
My plan, by God’s grace and the support of the good people of Offa, is that I want to impact new things in the life of my people and in society at large. I know it cannot be done alone. I trust that with the people of Offa, well-meaning people of Kwara State, my parents and with the help of God, I will surely make the desired impact.
Arewa beauty contest is part of Ijakadi day festival, what is Ijakadi festival all about?
Ijakadi is the signature of Offa, the identity of Offa and the core value upon which Offa is built. It is often said: ‘Ijakadi l’oro Offa,’ meaning Ijakadi is synonymous with Offa. First, Ijakadi festival unites sons and daughters of Offa. Second, Offa detests cheating and will never cheat on anybody. Third, Offa people believe that what you struggle to achieve will bear your integrity and add value to you. Ijakadi is a platform for cultural renaissance and unification of ideas. The beauty of Ijakadi festival is seen through the calibre of people who organise the programme. The essence is for the world to know that there is an African town where unity of purpose is their strength.
Being a female, have you suffered any form of abuse or attack before?
Yes! I have been a victim of rejection several times but I fought my way through. Everywhere I have been, I let them know that as an Offa person I will not accept a redefinition of my value. It’s always a battle and God sees me through. You cannot be me and I don’t want to be you. So, we need to appreciate each other’s values and that is why I don’t discriminate against anybody. Everything that God created is good. I am wonderfully made. I am special and nothing can change that fact. That I am a female doesn’t make me less human, the world should begin to understand that fact and treat the girl child as an inevitable partner in making the world a better place for us all. In my language, we say “Bi onigba ba se pee, ni won se ma n baa pe e”, if you own a calabash, the value you place on that calabash is what others would place on it. If you call it a wash hand material, that’s how they would use it and if you call it adorable, people will adore it. For me, I am a queen that the world is expecting and I will not look back on anything till I manifest what God wants me to be.
You must have passed through some life hurdles; how did you pass through without being hurt or discouraged?
Late Dr Tai Solarin’s prayer was “May your road be rough.” The road has been very rough, but challenging and rewarding. I believe that everybody has encountered one or two life challenges, but we all overcome them one way or the other by the help of God. I have encountered a lot of challenges but I have my maker who created me for a purpose and I am fulfilling that purpose. Almighty Allah also blessed me with wonderful, supportive and ever reliable parents. When it rained, they never allowed the rain to beat me and when it’s sunny, I was not beaten by the sun. I can never appreciate them enough.
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