Benue State govt abandoned me – Miss Nigeria 1963, Alice Alache Adepe

Miss Alache, Miss Nigeria 1963, has lamented that her state, Benue, failed to celebrate her despite making her proud.

Alache broke the jinx as the first woman from the then Benue-Plateau to win the highly coveted crown.

Against the backdrop of fame, Mama Alice’s life took an unexpected turn, leading her to the tranquil hamlet of Otukpo Icho in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Sixty years after her historic victory, she graciously shares her poignant story exclusively with Idoma Television.

We are aware that you were crowned Miss Nigeria in 1963. You are from this town (Otukpo). Today, our team from Idoma Voice thought it wise to come pay you a visit and have a chat with you. Could you please tell us more about yourself?

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your team for coming all the way to visit me. Thank you very much.

I was crowned Miss Kano before becoming Miss Nigeria in the same year – 1963.

After my victory in Kano, I was taken to Lagos for the Miss Nigeria contest. Then, it was Daily Times (Newspaper) that was sponsoring the beauty contest.

During the contest, it was Benue-Plateau. It was a friend of mine that encouraged me to join the contest.

An Igbo lady called Chinyere. When they arranged the contest in Kano, she met me and said we should join the contest.

I told her I was not interested because, in my place, the moment you begin to showcase yourself, people will be saying negative things about you.

Above all, my father was hot-tempered, so I was scared, but she insisted.
I told her what would happen if we didn’t win; she pointedly said if I didn’t win, she would win. So I reluctantly joined the Miss Kano beauty contest, and I won.

Those of us that put in for the competition in Lagos were from 19 states. I am not the first Miss Nigeria; the first Miss Nigeria was Theresa Ogunbiyi from the southwest.

It was 7up Company that the competition took place, and I emerged victorious.

But unfortunately for my friend (Chinyere), she didn’t win.

So, after my victory, the Woman Editor of Daily Times, who was in charge, Theresa Ogunbiyi, took us to London. We were on a tour of London for about two weeks before we returned home.

After my trip to London, I returned to Kano to continue with my business until my mum died.

This place I am occupying is not my father’s house. My family house is somewhere down the hills.

After my mother died, as the most senior daughter, I came here to do the necessary rites. This is my mother’s house.

And I have been staying here ever since.

You said it was your friend that encouraged you to join the beauty contest; did you buy any registration forms then?

Not at all, during our time, it was not about money or education. All they wanted was charisma and beauty.

What inspired you to go into the contest?

It was because my friend encouraged that we should go that either of us must win. The contest then, how was it like? Like? What did you people do then?

Nothing special; after my emergence as Miss Kano, we were taken to Lagos and we were camped in a hotel – 19 of us from various states. It wasn’t all about money or connections.

It was based on merit. We spent about three weeks before the day of the competition.

Apart from the London trip, what were the other benefits? Various companies gave us many things. Items like a sewing machine, cartons of noodles, and several other things.

After winning the competition, did you put it for other contests like Miss World?

Not at all. I didn’t go anywhere after that. Why?

Because they take anybody to Miss World; even those that won before me didn’t go for Miss World.

You said it was after your mother’s death that you relocated to this village. Yes, so that the house won’t be empty.

So, from 1963 after your victory till now, do you have any regrets?

Not really.

The only regret is that I had thought that after my victory, my state government would have remembered me, but they abandoned me. That is my only regret.

But I thank God that I am still alive. I am sure you were not even born when I won the crown.

So, you were born after that, and you have now known me. So, I have no regrets apart from the fact that my own state has forgotten me.

Do you have any advice for young ladies going into beauty contests?

Yes, I have things to tell them, but none of them come to me.

I think in Benue as a whole, it was Ene Lawani who became the second person from Benue to win Miss Nigeria.

But despite that, I still thank God for sparing my life and you people have remembered to come celebrate me. I am grateful.