Omasan Buwa
Encyclopedia
Omasan Tokurbo Buwa is a Nigerian lawyer and magazine columnist, currently working as a government official in Delta State
.
Buwa was born in England
, but moved to her native Nigeria with her parents at the age of seven. In 1987, she rose to national fame in Nigeria when she represented Warri in the second Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
pageant. As the contest had taken place late in the year, she ruled for most of 1988, and quickly gained a reputation as MBGN's most unconventional winner due to her controversial manner, and was described as a tomboy by the Nigerian press. Prior to winning MBGN, she had contested in Miss Nigeria 1987, where she placed second, and was on the books of Pandora model agency, working for designers Dakova and Labanella. After representing Nigeria in Miss Universe
, Miss Intercontinental, and Miss World
in 1988, she returned to the University of Maiduguri
, where she was studying English, but was suspended by the institution's predominantly Muslim
authorities who were enraged at her decision to compete in a pageant.
Apart from starring in the movie Scattered Pictures, she also featured in soap opera
s Memories and Ripples, and presented a segment on weekend breakfast show Morning Ride. A tabloid favourite, she also owned a restaurant–jazz
bar in Lagos
before she married and left Nigeria, and in 2002, she graduated with a Law degree
from North London University.
While in London
, Buwa worked as a presenter with BEN Television
, before residing in Ohio
where she worked as an attorney
and part-time model. She was also a columnist
with The Diasporan Star magazine, and currently writes the column "Generation Max" for Whispaz Magazine. In 2009, Buwa announced she was returning to Nigeria to work on her new project, Youth Empowerment and Development in Delta, an organisation for the "monitoring, mentoring and motivation" of the youth in her native Delta
.
Now divorced, Buwa is a single mother of two boys and a girl, and a politician – in 2009, she was appointed as executive assistant to the governor of Delta, specialising in disability
. Her initiated program RISE focuses on rehabilitative and social interaction of physically challenged persons.
Delta State
Delta State may refer to:*Delta State, a state in southern Nigeria.*Delta State , a Canadian animated television series.*Delta State University, a public university located in the U.S. state of Mississippi....
.
Buwa was born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but moved to her native Nigeria with her parents at the age of seven. In 1987, she rose to national fame in Nigeria when she represented Warri in the second Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant originally began as Miss Universe Nigeria in 1983, and was created by Silverbird Group. It was later re-named Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 1986. Winners represent Nigeria in Miss World and, until recently, Miss Universe – currently, only the...
pageant. As the contest had taken place late in the year, she ruled for most of 1988, and quickly gained a reputation as MBGN's most unconventional winner due to her controversial manner, and was described as a tomboy by the Nigerian press. Prior to winning MBGN, she had contested in Miss Nigeria 1987, where she placed second, and was on the books of Pandora model agency, working for designers Dakova and Labanella. After representing Nigeria in Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
, Miss Intercontinental, and Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
in 1988, she returned to the University of Maiduguri
University of Maiduguri
The University of Maiduguri is located in Maiduguri, a city in Borno State in northeast Nigeria. The university was created by the federal government in 1975, with the intention of its becoming one of the country's principal higher-education institutions...
, where she was studying English, but was suspended by the institution's predominantly Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
authorities who were enraged at her decision to compete in a pageant.
Apart from starring in the movie Scattered Pictures, she also featured in soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s Memories and Ripples, and presented a segment on weekend breakfast show Morning Ride. A tabloid favourite, she also owned a restaurant–jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
bar in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
before she married and left Nigeria, and in 2002, she graduated with a Law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from North London University.
While in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Buwa worked as a presenter with BEN Television
BEN Television
BEN Television is a British television channel launched in 2003, aimed mainly at expatriate Africans living in Europe and north Africa...
, before residing in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
where she worked as an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and part-time model. She was also a columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
with The Diasporan Star magazine, and currently writes the column "Generation Max" for Whispaz Magazine. In 2009, Buwa announced she was returning to Nigeria to work on her new project, Youth Empowerment and Development in Delta, an organisation for the "monitoring, mentoring and motivation" of the youth in her native Delta
Delta State
Delta State may refer to:*Delta State, a state in southern Nigeria.*Delta State , a Canadian animated television series.*Delta State University, a public university located in the U.S. state of Mississippi....
.
Now divorced, Buwa is a single mother of two boys and a girl, and a politician – in 2009, she was appointed as executive assistant to the governor of Delta, specialising in disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
. Her initiated program RISE focuses on rehabilitative and social interaction of physically challenged persons.