20-Year-Old Miss Tourism Nigeria Finalist, Maureen Onu, Dies Mid-Contest

Maureen Onu, a 20-year-old contestant in the 2016 Miss Tourism Nigeria beauty pageant has died following a brief illness.

According to a statement by Santiago Roberts, chief executive of the Miss Tourism Nigeria Organization, Maureen Onu, who was from Ebonyi State, passed away after a brief illness. He referred to Ms. Onu as ‘one of the brightest’.

RIP: Miss Tourism Nigeria finalist, Maureen Onu passes away at age 20.

“The brand has lost a true and a great gem; Maureen was one of the brightest who was always prompt to carry out instructions/tasks giving and willing to learn; she was looking forward to representing her state with pride during this year’s finals and with the hopes of becoming the first ever national tourism queen from Ebonyi state,” Roberts said.

Maureen Onu was a finalist in the beauty pageant which is billed to take place on July 9, 2016.

The Miss Tourism Nigeria Organisation also said it would “redesign the content and production of the event to honour the lost contestant”.

May her soul rest in peace and her family be granted grace to go through this difficult time.