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Lagos State Governor’s Special Adviser on Tourism, Idris Aregbe, has challenged contestants in the Miss Surulere Beauty Heritage Pageant to look beyond winning the crown and use their platforms, networks and influence to drive meaningful development in their communities.
Aregbe gave the charge when he received the contestants during a courtesy visit to the Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, urging them to develop practical initiatives capable of addressing social challenges and promoting the identity and heritage of Surulere.
He said beauty pageants should not be limited to physical appearance, stressing that contestants had the capacity to become agents of positive change through community-based projects and advocacy.
“You can do much. It depends on where we are standing. I think you have self-capacity, and also the power of association,” Aregbe said.
He urged the contestants to leverage their individual strengths, relationships and networks to develop sustainable programmes instead of waiting for opportunities to come their way.
According to him, their platform provides an avenue to champion causes, inspire young people and contribute to the development of Lagos.
Aregbe also charged the contestants to preserve the distinctive identity and heritage of Surulere, urging them not to lose touch with the community that shaped them.
“When you think of Surulere, what comes to mind? Surulere is a small city, a cool, passionate city. My request to you: hold on to that identity. Don’t let it be lost,” he said.
He urged them to remember the people who contributed to the growth of Surulere and build their own legacies around the values and history of the community.
“Your own identity is what people will remember you by,” he added.
The governor’s aide further encouraged the contestants to cultivate relationships, build networks and establish partnerships capable of sustaining their initiatives.
“If you want to sustain your plans going forward, look for new opportunities and find ways to make them last — reach out, network, and stay connected with people who can support you and help open doors,” he said.
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Aregbe stressed that the contestants should aspire to become queens whose contributions would outlive their reign, declaring: “The crown is temporary, but the impact is permanent.”
He urged them to see the pageant as an opportunity to become worthy ambassadors of Surulere and contribute to the wider development of Lagos.
Meanwhile, stakeholders behind the pageant pledged to support the contestants beyond the competition, promising to facilitate opportunities and partnerships that could help them actualise viable community projects.
The stakeholders said necessary approvals and documentation would be processed to enable contestants pursue credible initiatives, while partnerships, including those involving Chinese investors and organisations, would be explored to create additional opportunities for the eventual winner.
They, however, clarified that such opportunities would not be restricted to the winner, noting that contestants who demonstrated capacity, commitment and viable ideas would also be considered for future opportunities.
The Show Producer, Mr Adebayo Adegbe, said the contestants were undergoing intensive training in etiquette, poise, speech, public speaking and catwalk, among other areas, to prepare them for both the competition and life beyond it.
Adegbe said the training was designed to help the contestants discover their potential, build confidence and develop the skills required to engage effectively with individuals, institutions and the wider society.
He added that the contestants would have opportunities to meet role models and interact with the local government on tourism-related issues, exposing them to experienced professionals while helping them build useful networks.
According to him, the contestants had already met with the Local Government Chairman, who expressed the council’s readiness to collaborate with participants who had viable community development plans.
Adegbe disclosed that the local government had announced a ₦1.5 million cash prize for the winner, while the first and second runners-up would receive ₦1 million and ₦500,000 respectively.
He added that additional prizes valued at about ₦2 million would be shared among other participants, while the winner would also enjoy a three-day stay at Transcorp Hotel.
The show producer said the eventual winner could also gain access to wider government-linked projects, with some opportunities potentially extending beyond Nigeria.
Adegbe expressed confidence in the quality of the contestants, describing them as intelligent, capable and well positioned to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
The Miss Surulere Beauty Heritage Pageant is consequently emerging as more than a conventional beauty contest, with organisers positioning it as a platform for **youth empowerment, leadership development, community service, networking and others.
