Goge Africa, a culture and tourism promotion platform, has celebrated its 25th anniversary with colourful and interesting cultural presentations, as well as fashion and arts exhibitions.

Goge Africa was founded on October 1, 1999 by Isaac Moses and Nneka Isaac-Moses.

The celebration, held in Lagos, also featured a contest for the Face of Goge Africa, aimed at showcasing the richness of Africa’s creative fashion, art, and modelling talents on a global stage.

The contest had 25 African youths, aged between 18 and 25, compete for FOGA, after a series of screening.

After going through a series of intellectual examination, fashion parade and other categories of contest, five winners emerged.

Sandra Kaba from Liberia won a trip to the Gambia, courtesy of the Gambia Tourism Board while Adebowale Victoria won a ship cruise to the Bahamas, courtesy the Royal Caribbean.

Also, Adewale Mary bagged one million naira cash prize, courtesy Goge Africa Foundation; and Nwagu Eustess-Malcolm will benefit training at the London Fashion Week, sponsored by wife of the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, founder Nigerian Fashion Week London.

Another winner, Emeruem Emeka will enjoy an all-expense paid trip to The Gambia, to be sponsored by the Gambia Tourism.

Nneka Isaac-Moses, in an interview, expressed her joy for the remarkable achievements recorded since inception of Goge Africa.

She said FOGA was deliberately created to help empower African youths in gaining entrepreneurial skills.

She said the platform received applications from six countries: Burundi, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Gambia and Nigeria.

She said another phase of the contest would be held soon, as a modelling runway agency in America has also demanded the service of two black Americans who would emerge Face of Goge.

“This is the inaugural event for Goge Africa 25th anniversary celebration. I feel so fulfilled that we have been able to create the platform we have always wanted to. Success is when we have successors. We have created a FOGA platform to help African youths so that they do not struggle so hard and suffer the way we did.

“We shall groom the five winners to become professional models and provide training to them in areas of media and tourism promotion. All the contestants that made it to the finals shall enjoy mentorship from us as well and training opportunities,” she said.

Also, expressing his joy, Isaac Moses, said, “I feel so elated and fulfilled that now we have hope for young Africans not to struggle like we did. We are on the right trajectory and I would like to appreciate MTN, Access Bank from Angola, Dr Angela Adamu, President of the Association of Spouses of Nigerian Ambassadors and other individuals that gave prizes. The goodwill is so enormous.”

Celebrities in attendance at the event included renowned Nollywood veterans such as Sola Shobowale, Joke Silva, Fred Amata, Keppy Ekpenyong, Emeka Ossai,  Adenrele Edun, top government functionaries and international delegates.

(NAN)