The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has officially presented Miss Nigeria 2026, Miss Tamunosoye Karibi-George, as the country’s representative to the 75th Miss World Pageant, with a call on Nigerians to unite in support of her as she prepares to compete on the global stage.
At a colourful national reception held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, fsi, formally sent off the beauty queen, who will represent Nigeria at the international pageant scheduled to take place in Vietnam from August 9 to September 5, 2026.
The event attracted senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, captains of industry, cultural organisations, media practitioners, and other distinguished guests.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister described the Miss World Pageant as more than a beauty competition, noting that it has become a global platform for leadership, humanitarian service, cultural exchange, advocacy, and social impact through its internationally recognised Beauty with a Purpose initiative.
She said Nigeria’s participation in the competition aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in promoting youth development, women’s leadership, inclusion, and national growth.
Expressing confidence in Nigeria’s representative, the Minister said Miss Karibi-George possesses the qualities required to project the country’s rich cultural heritage, creativity, and resilience before a global audience.
“As our queen departs to represent Nigeria, we do so with confidence. We believe in her abilities, we trust in her preparation, and we know she will serve as an outstanding ambassador for our nation,” she said.
The Minister urged Nigerians to rally behind the country’s representative, stressing that representing Nigeria on the world stage is already a remarkable achievement regardless of the final outcome. She also conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady, assuring Miss Karibi-George of the Federal Government’s unwavering support.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Esuabana Nko Asanye, congratulated Miss Karibi-George on her emergence as Miss Nigeria 2026 and encouraged her to uphold the nation’s values while representing the country with distinction.
The President of the Silverbird Group and National Director of Miss World Nigeria, Guy Murray-Bruce, formally presented the beauty queen to the gathering and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to empowering Nigerian women through international platforms.
He described the Miss World competition as a platform that celebrates intelligence, leadership, compassion, purpose, and service, while urging Nigerians to support their representative throughout the competition.
Responding, Miss Tamunosoye Karibi-George expressed gratitude to God, her family, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Miss World Nigeria Organisation, and Nigerians for their encouragement and support.
She pledged to represent Nigeria with dignity, excellence, humility, and purpose while showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage and positive values to the world.
“I promise to represent Nigeria with dignity, grace, excellence, and purpose,” she said.
The reception also featured goodwill messages from representatives of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Akwa Ibom State Government, development partners, and other stakeholders, all of whom expressed confidence in Nigeria’s chances at the international competition.
A major highlight of the event was a colourful cultural performance by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Cultural Troupe, which showcased Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity through music and dance.
The Miss World Nigeria Organisation also presented a special gift to the Honourable Minister in appreciation of the Ministry’s support for women’s empowerment and its partnership in promoting Nigeria on the global stage.
Also speaking, the President and Founder of God’s Citizens Worldwide and Director of Diaspora Operations/International Liaison Officer, Forward Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2027, High Chief Wisdom Chukwuma Okoye, commended the Minister for her leadership and commitment to the successful organisation of the national send-off ceremony.
He praised her hands-on approach to the programme, noting that she personally ensured the smooth coordination of the event and the welfare of invited guests.
According to him, the Minister’s dedication to empowering young Nigerian women and projecting a positive image of the country was evident throughout the ceremony.
“I was particularly impressed by the commitment and dedication of the Honourable Minister. She personally ensured that everything was properly organised and that invited guests were well taken care of. I believe our representative will make Nigeria proud and, by God’s grace, return with victory,” he said.
The ceremony ended with a vote of thanks by the Team Lead, Prince Iwefa Aganaba, who appreciated the Minister, partner organisations, sponsors, stakeholders, members of the diplomatic community, guests, and the media for contributing to the success of the event.
Miss Tamunosoye Karibi-George is expected to compete alongside contestants from about 130 countries and territories, providing Nigeria another opportunity to showcase its culture, talent, and national identity on the global stage.
