The team of the prestigious Miss Nigeria Pageant, led by its chairman, renowned actress and filmmaker, Rita Dominic-Anosike, paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-chairman, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at her office in Alausa, Ikeja.
The visit provided an opportunity to explore areas of collaboration between the Miss Nigeria Pageant and the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, particularly in promoting a value-driven beauty pageant, youth development, cultural promotion and women empowerment ahead of the 46th edition of the Miss Nigeria Pageant.
Speaking during the visit, Benson-Awoyinka emphasised the importance of redefining beauty pageants to reflect strong values, character and purpose, noting that platforms such as Miss Nigeria should inspire young women to become ambassadors of culture, integrity and leadership.
According to her, beauty contests should go beyond physical appearance to celebrate intellect, confidence, cultural pride and the ability of young women to positively influence society.
The Commissioner stressed the need to reshape the narrative around beauty representation, particularly for younger generations, adding that young women must be encouraged to project values capable of inspiring children and society at large.
She also reiterated the commitment of the Lagos State Government to support initiatives that promote positive cultural identity, youth engagement and women empowerment across the diverse communities in Lagos.
Benson-Awoyinka further noted that Lagos State, as a cosmopolitan hub of creativity, commerce and culture, provides an ideal platform for initiatives that nurture talent and empower young people to thrive within the creative economy.
She added that Nigerians must continue to project a positive national image in line with the development vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, stressing that every citizen has a role to play in promoting a positive narrative about the country.
“I believe the Miss Nigeria Pageant can serve as a platform to promote the total package of our cultural heritage, rather than focusing solely on fashion or physical appearance,” the Commissioner said.
In her remarks, Dominic-Anosike highlighted the renewed vision of the Miss Nigeria organisation to reposition the pageant as a platform for leadership, education, personal development and national representation.
She explained that the organisation is committed to transparency in the selection process, while placing greater emphasis on mentorship, personal growth and intellectual development for contestants.
According to her, participants now undergo intensive development programmes designed to build confidence, communication skills and leadership capacity, adding that the transformation seen in contestants within a short period demonstrates the power of structured mentorship and exposure.
Dominic-Anosike also revealed plans to introduce year-round activities for the platform, including a Beauty and Fashion Fair and cultural travel initiatives aimed at exposing contestants to broader cultural experiences while promoting Nigeria’s heritage.
She noted that the goal is to ensure that young women understand that being a beauty queen goes beyond appearance and can coexist with professional aspirations in fields such as medicine, law, entrepreneurship and public service.
Members of the Miss Nigeria delegation present at the meeting included Executive Business Manager, Mercy Sunday-Umoren, and Kate Okpo.