My name is Meklit Tezera. I’m 20-years-old and I’m a third-year clinical nursing student in Minilk II referral hospital.

Why are you competing for Miss Africa Calabar 2020?
There are issues in Africa and I want to do my best to solve them. These include violence against women and inadequate health care systems. It’s difficult to survive the pandemic as we don’t always have access to adequate health care. Standards of living are also low with various economic issues. But, I believe we can make a change if we work together and create awareness and create job opportunities for the youth so they don’t have to immigrate to other countries to seek opportunities.

What solution would you offer for the challenges Africa is facing in terms of the COVID 19 pandemic and other health, governance, and environmental issues?
In terms of COVID 19 and other health problems, we have to work together to make a change. Every person has to get health services and medical equipment. But the best solution would be to make the community aware and invest in education because to improve the health system is to develop the citizen and increasing health benefit for the poor.

What would you do with the prize money should you win and what project would you take on to impact Africa at large?
If I get to be Miss Africa Calabar 2020, I’ll keep my promise and work on the problems that Africa is facing. I want to work with various governments and prove that developing countries seek attention. This platform will increase my voice and give me a chance to be heard which in turn gives me an opportunity to be a role model for many young women across the continent.