At 19 she made Nigeria proud as “Miss Nigeria 1958” and suffer neglect resulting to her death

At 19 she made Nigeria proud as “Miss Nigeria 1958” and suffer neglect resulting to her death 


HELEN ANYEMELUNE was 19 years old when she was crowned Miss Nigeria 1958. she made her country proud even before her Indepedence and then she suffered huge neglect thereafter resulting to her death on Saturday, July 28, 2012 as captured by Prince Amour Udemude in this report

 About 53 years ago, specifically 1958, she was crowned the most beautiful girl in Nigeria. That was before the country became independent.

She was also the second young lady to be so crowned in the history of beauty pageant in Nigeria. With her emergence, she became the most sought after woman in the country. Many people wanted to be associated with her.

Then a time comes, the story changed.

Nobody wants to know what becomes of her. The beauty faded and the allure gone.

To compound it, she became penniless, after having spent all her money on the sickness that had ravaged her body.

For Helen, an indigene of Ugbodu community in Aniocha North Local Government area of defunct Bendel State, now Delta State, the only time she was ever offered a lifeline was during the tenure of former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.

In the last interview with Prince Amour Udemude sometime in November, 2011, Helen, seated on a wheel chair in tears said, “Oh Nigeria my country has forsaken me".

"For several years, I have been sick and confided in this wheel chair with no assistance of any kind".

I once represented Nigeria as "Miss Nigeria 1958".

At this juncture, she burst into tears asking rhetorically again; "what have I done to Nigeria to warrant this neglect? Not even one government official can come to my aid and assist me in whatever way.? 
Helen who spoke exclusively with this reporter said in a emotion laden voice; "I have been suffering from stroke for several years now and I know if the state or the Federal government had come to my aid by now my health would have improved and who knows, I may not have ended in a wheel chair like this."

She had appealed passionately then to government at all levels, NGOs, cooperate bodies, individuals and leaders of Nigeria and public-spirited Nigerians to come to her aid.

Specifically, she pleaded that government shouldn't allow the labour of their heroes past to be in vain.

Helen lamented the situation where after promoting and making proud ones country, you end up been neglected and abandoned by the same country.

She believes she is a Nigeria heroines that needed to be cater for but it appear she was dead wrong because the culture is different from the way she envisage it

It appears become of her pitiable condition with no help in sight, she lost hope in Nigeria when she said if the country continue like this, it will soon have no heroes.

“Till date as I talk, I am alone responsible for all my medical treatment; the bill is borne by me".

"I have sold all my property both in Lagos just to take care of the stroke but all to no avail".

"If government, NGOs or anybody could offer me support, I will receive it wholeheartedly.

"This is a country I served diligently as Miss Nigeria”, she lamented.

Helen is survived by three children (All Boys) namely, Obiora, Osita and Chinedu, all said to be based in Lagos.

May the gentle soul of Helen rest in the bosom of the almighty LORD Amen.