LAGOS GOVT PARTNERS MISS MOTHERLAND PAGEANT TO FOSTER NATIONAL UNITY, CULTURAL REORIENTATION
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, has officially announced its strategic partnership with the Miss Motherland Pageant, an innovative cultural initiative designed to promote national unity, youth empowerment, and cultural reawakening.
This was made known at a media briefing held recently at the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, Lagos Island.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs of the Ministry, Ms. Adeoti Sobowale, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to support the 2025 edition of the pageant.
“This is far more than a beauty contest. It is a unity project, an impactful platform for cultural education, civic reorientation, and patriotic engagement. Under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda and our strategic inter-ministerial collaboration, Lagos is proud to serve as the official support for this landmark event”, he said.
The Permanent Secretary emphasised the importance of collective action in delivering initiatives of this scale, noting that success depends on collaboration across various government arms. “This programme is not the work of a single ministry. It represents a confluence of efforts across departments, agencies, and partners, all aligned to advance a shared vision for national development,” he added.
Prince Timmy Abiri, Director of the Motherland Pageant and Convener of the initiative, described the project as a purposeful platform for national healing.
“Miss Mortherland Pageant celebrates our heritage while bridging the divide between citizens and government”, he said. “The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, has demonstrated visionary leadership in using culture as a tool for unity and progress”.
Unlike conventional pageants, the Miss Motherland pageant excludes objectifying segments such as bikini displays and focuses instead on cultural expression, attitude, behaviour, intellectual engagement, empowerment, and public service to humanity. “This is not a superficial spectacle,” Abiri noted. “It is a cultural crusade, one that champions shared values and a sense of national purpose.”
Open to Nigerian women aged 18 to 35, both locally and in the diaspora, registration for the pageant is completely free. “We are not asking women to pay to be empowered,” said Abiri. “We are seeking women with passion and purpose – those who are ready to serve as cultural ambassadors and agents of national development.”
The programme also includes training in skill acquisition, civic education, and public service mentorship, providing contestants with direct exposure to governance and social development frameworks.
“Too often, young people see the government as distant or ineffective. This platform offers a direct interface, enabling them to experience how real change can be driven through collaboration and civic participation,” Abiri added.
All contestants will be recognised as cultural ambassadors and will receive consolation prizes, while the eventual winner will be conferred with the title of National Ambassador for Unity and Cultural Development, supported by a government-issued identification card.
Addressing concerns about inclusivity, Abiri reaffirmed the pageant’s commitment to celebrating diversity in all forms. “Whether you are slim or curvy, beauty here is defined by character, courage, and commitment to nation-building,” he said.
“Government cannot do it alone, that’s why we are working with capable institutions, those that can mobilise resources not through personal wealth, but through a shared commitment to Nigeria’s progress,” he stated.
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