Perhaps, what can be termed the very first tertiary institutions reality television show in Africa is set to hit TV Screens next week Monday. Named the Queen Varsity Afrika, the show is a search for Beauty+Brains across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Speaking to a team of journalists on the show recently, the Managing Director of Pillars & Pride, Jasmine Ofoegbu is also the Executive Producer of the show, says the programme is an initiative geared towards empowering the African girl-child and portraying her beyond just her beauty.
“Queen Varsity Afrika is geared towards empowering and equipping young African female undergraduates and fresh graduates for the future. This show is also aimed at addressing several societal issues affecting the youths. Issues such as health, safety, Self-esteem, culture, tourism, information technology, entrepreneurial skills, humanitarian outreach, etc,” she emphasized.
17 contestant from different tertiary institutions from across Nigeria, including one from Benin Republic made it to the maiden edition of the reality television show. All contestants were taken to a boot camp where they were tutored and mentored by notable and respectable Nigerians in various fields of endeavours, including the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, making it the first time any reality TV show will feature a former two time President.
The 13 episodes programme is billed to run on NTA 2 Lagos-which is on DSTV, and Jive TV on Startimes and other online portals will commence from February 11, 2019. Contestants would have the opportunity to vote via www.queenvarsityafrica.com and on the show’s social media pages for their favourite housemate or school to go to the round of ten. The ten princesses will then proceed to the grand finale where the Queen Varsity Africa will emerge.
Speaking on the objectives of the show, Jasmine noted that Queen Varsity Afrika is an empowerment programme that will avail the contestants the opportunity for self-realization, self-actualization, as well as boost their self-esteem. “The aim is to groom and empower the next generation of Nigerian women today as whoever empowers a woman empowers a nation.
Tagged ‘the search for Beauty plus Brains, the first edition of the show is a 13 episode family program that promises to entertain, educate and tutor both the contestants and the viewers at home. As a matter of rule, Jasmine says the reality show is a non-nudity, non-bikini show for obvious reasons. “The aim of this reality show is to project more of what the girls have to offer and not just about their physical attributes. That is why we are positioning this show as a non-bikini and a non-nudity show.”
Outside the experiences that the contestants referred to as princesses stand to gain, organisers say that there is a N1,000,000 price for the winner at the grand finale of the show to be held at a yet to be announced date.
On the collaboration, Jasmine explains that Queen Varsity Africa is open to partnership with interested parties who are willing to join in the promotion of sustainable education and welfare of the African girl-child. “For this year, we are working in collaboration with the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB). We are ready to partner with agencies, brands and organisations who are ready to join in empowering the African Girl Child using the platform of our educative and entertaining reality TV project this edition and in subsequent ones,” She concluded.
