23-year-old Neurite Mendes was crowned Miss Africa on 26th November 2016 at the Calabar International Conference Centre, Cross River State, Nigeria. At the end of her reign, Queen Neurite Mendes the 1st would have travelled across the African continent, executing her pet project tagged "Shield the Mother-Land" with the message: Adopt a tree, to fight the effect of climate change across Africa. She will also create awareness in schools and communities on eco lifestyle, recycling and up-cycling (trash to cash, waste to wealth initiatives) for sustainable development.

Having lived in 4 different African countries made me acknowledge the beauty of our continent and molded me into a patriotic African. I owe all to my motherland, thus I would do what it takes to protect it from the effects of climate change. -  Neurite Mendes (Miss Africa 2016)