Omasan Buwa

Omasan Tokurbo Maxine Buwa (born 1965, London) is a social worker and media commentator in Nigeria. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of North London. Through her career, Buwa has worked as a model, television presenter, restaurateur, and actress.^[1]

Childhood and personal life[]

Buwa was born in Paddington, London. At seven years, she moved to Nigeria with her mother who was a teacher and the head of the catering department of Nigerian Airways. Buwa attended Government College Ikorodu where she showed interest in reading, debating and track and field sports. Buwa enrolled at the University of Maiduguri to study English language. Buwa became a fashion model. Her agent was the Pandora model agency. Buwa worked for designers including Dakova and Labanella and for advertising agencies such as Insight Communication and Rosabel .^[2][3] Buwa married and had a daughter and twin sons. She later divorced.

Pageants[]

In 1987, Buwa competed in the Miss Nigeria pageant and lost to Stella Okoye, but won the second Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant, representing Warri. Her coronation was marred by protests from the audience who favored first runner-up Niki Onuaguluchi who had flown from Los Angeles to compete in the pageant. The judges defended their decision on grounds that Onuaguluchi, whose height was 5'6", stood a lesser chance than rivals at the forthcoming Miss Intercontinental. Buwa, on her part, accused her rival of recruiting supporters to cheer her to victory.

During her reign, the Nigerian press described Buwa as unconventional and tomboyish.^[4] In 1988, Buwa represented Nigeria in the Miss Universe, Miss Intercontinental, and Miss World competitions. Then, she re-enrolled at the University of Maiduguri. However, the institution's predominantly Muslim authority declined Buwa's enrolment because she had participated in pageants.^[4] In 1989, Buwa co-hosted the Miss Intercontinental pageant held in Lagos.

Career[]

Buwa worked as an actress. She took the lead in the movie, Scattered Pictures, and in the soap operas Memories and Ripples. She also worked as the host of weekend breakfast television program Morning Ride broadcast on NTA 2 Channel 5. Buwa also appeared in regular segments on BEN Television, London. tabloid newspapers featured Buwa.

Buwa purchased a jazz bar and restaurant in Lagos. She then opened an aesthetics and cosmetology beauty business. After this, Buwa opened a modelling agency called "Queens LT" with the fashion designer, Funmi Ajila.^[5]

Buwa then moved to New York City, where she worked as a make-up artist. Her clients included Naomi Campbell and Mary J. Blige.^[6]

Buwa returned to England and in 2002, received a law degree from the North London University. She then returned to the US where she was employed as an attorney, a social worker for special needs children. Buwa also worked part-time as a model in Ohio.

Buwa writes columns for The Diasporan Star, an American-based Nigerian magazine.^[7] She also writes the column "Generation Max" for Whispaz Magazine.

Social work[]

In 2009, Buwa returned to Nigeria to continue her social work. Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, the governor of Delta state, Nigeria, supported Buwa's program called "Rise", which helped to meet the needs of people with disabilities. In Nigeria, Buwa has appeared on socio-political radio programs and has written for magazines. She also created an entity called "Maximillia 3", which mentors young people interested in a career in the media and discourages abuse of young women in the beauty pageant industry. Buwa's sons have helped to expand the project^[8]

See also[]

• Banke Meshida Lawal

References[]