Organisers of the Face of Edo Beauty Pageant have announced plans to celebrate the platform’s 20th anniversary in 2026, alongside preparations for the 16th edition of the Face of the World Nigeria Beauty Pageant in the year.
The anniversary and the 16th edition of the Face of the World Nigeria Beauty Pageant, themed “Akpako Rescue Edition”, events are expected to spotlight two decades of cultural promotion, youth empowerment, leadership development, and humanitarian initiatives aimed at improving the lives of women, young people, and families of security personnel across the country.
Established in 2006, ‘Face of Edo’ has evolved into one of the Edo State’s prominent cultural and leadership platforms, producing entrepreneurs, media practitioners, educators, and public servants who have distinguished themselves within and beyond the State.
According to the organisers, the anniversary will honour past winners and participants while showcasing Edo’s rich cultural heritage through arts, entertainment, and community-based projects across the state’s 18 local government areas.
The 2026 Face of the World Nigeria finals will bring together contestants from different parts of the country, with a focus on leveraging pageantry as a vehicle for social change. The initiative seeks to address challenges such as unemployment, healthcare access, educational inequality, and the welfare of military and police families.
The organisers disclosed that Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed support for the event and pledged to help position it as a showcase of Edo hospitality and the “Akpako Rescue” vision.
As part of its community outreach programmes, the pageant plans to launch the Akpako Skills Rescue Initiative, designed to provide vocational and digital skills training for more than 500 young women and girls. Other interventions will include free medical outreaches, mental health support services, scholarships, educational materials for underserved pupils, and empowerment programmes for families of serving and retired military and police personnel.
A major highlight of the celebrations will be the participation of Blessing Joan Oaikhena, the reigning Face of the World Nigeria Queen 2026/2027 and convener of the Nigerian Armed Forces and Police Family Appreciation Day.
Oaikhena is expected to serve as Guest Advocate during the Face of Edo 20th anniversary celebration and will headline the Face of the World Nigeria finals before representing Nigeria at the global Face of the World Beauty Pageant.
Speaking on her role, Oaikhena stressed the need to use pageantry as a platform for social transformation, particularly in advancing opportunities for women, youths, and families of security personnel.
The international pageant is organised by the Divine Smiles Foundation International, a non-governmental organisation founded by philanthropist and peace ambassador Prince Eerik A. Odigie. The foundation has spent more than two decades promoting peace, education, and humanitarian causes through pageantry and community development initiatives.
Organisers noted that the collaboration between Face of Edo, Face of the World Nigeria, and Divine Smiles Foundation International reflects a growing shift toward impact-driven pageantry, where beauty contests increasingly serve as platforms for advocacy, empowerment, and measurable social impact.
They expressed confidence that the convergence of the Face of Edo’s 20th anniversary and the 16th edition of Face of the World Nigeria in 2026 will set a new benchmark for community engagement and humanitarian service within Nigeria’s pageantry industry.
