PHOTOS: VP’s Wife, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, Celebrities Honour Project Smile

Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo among other guests which included celebrities, diplomats, and captains of industries were present at the Project Smile 3.0 Smile Makeover Award Ceremony & Fund Raising event which took place last weekend at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

Mrs. Osinbajo clad in a predominantly pink & green -pattern African print graced the occasion with an inspiring speech in support of the Project Smile cause. She commended the initiative and applauded the vision as noble and worthy of encouragement to better the society.

 

The event which began with a red carpet reception and cocktails had in attendance notable figures from the corporate arena, media landscape and entertainment sphere. In attendance was Chief Dele Momodu, Publisher of Ovation International; Tonye Cole, CEO, Sahara Group; Bukky George, CEO, HealthPlus; Tonye Garrick; Maje Ayida, Celebrity Fitness Consultant; Dr. Funmi Ashiwaju, VP, Nigerian Dental Association; Clare Omatseye, MD, JNC Internation Ltd., Uzoma Dozie, GMD/CEO, Diamond Bank and others. The event was anchored by renowned Master of Ceremony who anchors the Big Brother Africa Reality Show till date, IK Osakioduwa. The guests were entertained to special genre of music performed by TemiDollFace.

 

The highpoint of the event was the declaration of winners, presentation of the Smile Makeover certificate to the winners and the fund raising ceremony of the Adopt-a-Smile scheme designed for guests to adopt treatment costs of the other candidates who didn’t make it to the winning class and whose dental cases may elicit the sympathy and support of the guests.  The candidates who were grouped in three categories- Severe, Moderate, and Mild emerged winners and adopted beneficiaries in these categories.

 

Out of the three candidates in the severe category, Funmilayo Olufa, a civil servant emerged the winner of the Smile Makeover Prize in the severe category while Omobola Abodurin, a Digital Brand Strategist was adopted as a beneficiary in the severe category. In the Moderate Category, Rotimi Faleye, an Entrepreneur clinched the winner status while Ibiene George, a Commissioner Officer with an Abuja-based NGO  and Chukwudumebi Olannye, a Student of Babcock University were adopted. The third category termed as the Mild cases had Jesse Ekwuruibe, a Military Personnel emerged as the winner while Isaac Brown, a Student of the National Open University, Lagos and Madonna Oguejifor, current NYSC member were adopted.

 

In a state of euphoria, Funmilayo Olufa thanked the organizers of Project Smile and eulogized the initiative. “I had a fatal auto crash in May 2006 lost a lot of teeth and sustained a deformed gum. I was in the hospital for over a month. The accident drastically changed my facial appearance and made me lose so much confidence in myself. I have not been able to openly laugh without covering my mouth. All these years, I have almost become a recluse because of my dental deformity. When I got wind of Project Smile, I decided to give it a try and I entered for the contest. I was hopeful I would be selected but wasn’t very sure when I saw other candidates. I’m so happy and filled with joy now that I’m going to get my life back.” She expressed.