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With a call for Nigerians to unite behind the country’s quest for global glory, the Federal Government on Thursday officially presented Miss Nigeria 2026, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, as the nation’s representative to the 75th Miss World Pageant, expressing confidence that she has what it takes to make the country proud on the world stage.
At a colourful national send-off ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, described the beauty queen as more than a pageant contestant, saying she embodies the resilience, intelligence, cultural richness and leadership potential of Nigerian women.
Karibi-George will represent Nigeria at the Miss World competition scheduled to hold in Vietnam from 9 August to 5 September, where contestants from about 130 countries and territories will compete.
The minister said Nigeria’s participation in the global pageant presents an opportunity to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage, creativity and youthful talent while strengthening its image internationally.
She noted that the Miss World platform has evolved beyond physical beauty into a global movement that celebrates humanitarian service, leadership, advocacy and social impact through its renowned “Beauty With a Purpose” initiative.
“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,” Suleiman-Ibrahim said.
She urged Nigerians, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious differences, to rally behind the country’s representative, stressing that representing Nigeria on the global stage was already a remarkable achievement deserving of national support.
The minister also conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, assuring the beauty queen of the Federal Government’s support throughout the competition.
She linked Nigeria’s participation in the pageant to the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its emphasis on youth development, women’s empowerment, inclusion and national development.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Esuabana Asanye, commended Karibi-George for emerging as Miss Nigeria 2026 and urged her to remain focused on projecting the country’s values with dignity and excellence throughout the competition.
The National Director of Miss World Nigeria and President of the Silverbird Group, Guy Morris-Bruce, formally presented the queen to the Federal Government, describing the Miss World competition as a platform that rewards intelligence, compassion, leadership and purposeful service rather than beauty alone.
He said the organisation remained committed to creating opportunities for Nigerian women to excel internationally while encouraging citizens to give the country’s representative their full support.
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Also speaking, President and Founder of God’s Citizens Worldwide, Wisdom Okoye, praised the minister for what he described as her personal commitment to ensuring the success of the national send-off.
He said her direct involvement in coordinating the event reflected her passion for empowering young Nigerian women and projecting a positive image of the country.
“I was particularly impressed by the commitment and dedication of the Honourable Minister. She personally ensured that everything was properly organised and that all invited guests were well taken care of,” he said.
Expressing optimism about Nigeria’s chances, Okoye added: “I believe, by the grace of God, our representative will return victorious, and we shall gather again to celebrate her success and our great nation.”
An emotional Karibi-George thanked God, her family, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Miss World Nigeria Organisation and Nigerians for believing in her dream.
Promising to fly the nation’s flag with pride, she pledged to represent Nigeria with dignity, humility and excellence while showcasing the country’s diverse cultural heritage before a global audience.
“I promise to represent Nigeria with dignity, grace, excellence and purpose,” she said.
The ceremony drew senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, development partners, captains of industry, cultural organisations and other stakeholders, who expressed optimism about Nigeria’s chances at the international pageant.
Guests were treated to vibrant cultural performances by the National Youth Service Corps Cultural Troupe, whose colourful display highlighted Nigeria’s rich ethnic diversity and artistic heritage.
The event also featured goodwill messages from the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Akwa Ibom State Government and other partners, all pledging support for Nigeria’s representative.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of a special appreciation gift to the minister by the Miss World Nigeria Organisation in recognition of the ministry’s commitment to women’s empowerment and its support for Nigeria’s participation in international platforms.
The Team Lead of the event, Iwefa Aganaba, appreciated government officials, sponsors, development partners, members of the diplomatic community and the media for contributing to the successful send-off.
