The Managing Director of the Abuja Enterprise (AEA) ArabiTukur has said one of the reasons the agency organized the Abuja Face Mask Competition was to help  in protecting the FCT residents from contracting the coronavirus easily. Tukur was speaking during the grand finale of the competition held at the agency’s complex in Abuja on Monday. “In facing this ugly reality, we came up with this competition which has three major objectives; i) to engage the [micro, small and medium scale enterprises] in the fashion industry to develop their skills and make a living, ii) protect our people from contacting the Virus by easily accessing and using the face mask, and iii) prevent the residents of the FCT from encountering the wrath of the Law for not wearing a face mask,” he said. Finalists of the competition went through a screening process which saw 10 companies meeting up with the criteria set out of 929 entries

The winner of the competition is Onojo Malissa Ocheineh and got a cash prize of N500,000. The first runner-up, Obiechina Stine John got N300,000 while the second runner-up, Egorp Mma Sussan got N200,000. Participants who came  fourth, fifth and sixth, got N50,000 each from Seyi Adekunle of Vodi Group and consolation prizes . One of the finalists and CEO of Heedarh Assortment, Ibrahim Fatima Tauheeda, said the competition afforded her the opportunity to come up with different ideas and designs of face masks and has given her the publicity to market her products.