Face of Edo at 20: Organisers Set Stage for 16th Face of the World Nigeria Pageant

The organizers of the Face of Edo Beauty Pageant have announced plans to celebrate the platform’s 20th anniversary in 2026, while preparations are also underway for the 16th edition of the Face of the World Nigeria Beauty Pageant, tagged the “Akpako Rescue Edition,” scheduled to hold on November 7, 2026.

The twin events are expected to highlight two decades of cultural preservation, youth empowerment, leadership development, and humanitarian interventions aimed at improving the lives of women, youths, and families of security personnel across Nigeria.

Founded in 2006, Face of Edo has grown into one of the state’s leading cultural and leadership platforms, producing entrepreneurs, media professionals, educators, and public servants who have made significant contributions within and outside Edo State. Organizers said the anniversary celebration will honour past winners and participants while promoting Edo cultural heritage through arts, entertainment, and community development projects across the state’s 18 local government areas.

The Face of the World Nigeria 2026 finals will bring together contestants from across the country under a common theme of using beauty as a tool for social impact. The event seeks to address pressing societal challenges, including unemployment, limited access to healthcare, educational inequalities, and the welfare of families of military and police personnel.

According to the organizers, the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has expressed support for the initiative, pledging to assist in making the event a remarkable showcase of Edo hospitality and the “Akpako Rescue” vision.

As part of its outreach programmes, the pageant will launch several community-based initiatives, including the Akpako Skills Rescue Initiative, which aims to provide vocational and digital skills training for more than 500 young women and girls. Other projects include free medical outreach programmes, mental health support services, educational scholarships and learning materials for underserved pupils, and empowerment programmes for families of serving and retired members of the Armed Forces and Police.

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 also headline the Face of the World Nigeria finals before representing Nigeria at the global finals of the Face of the World Beauty Pageant.

Speaking on her role, Oaikhena emphasized the importance of using pageantry as a platform for social transformation, particularly in supporting women, youths, and families of security personnel.

The international pageant is organized by the Divine Smiles Foundation International, a non-governmental organization founded by philanthropist and peace ambassador, Prince Eerik A. Odigie. The foundation has spent over two decades promoting peace, education, and humanitarian causes through pageantry and community development initiatives.

Organizers noted that the partnership between Face of Edo, Face of the World Nigeria, and Divine Smiles Foundation International reflects a growing shift towards impact-driven pageantry, where beauty contests are increasingly used as platforms for advocacy, empowerment, and measurable social change.

With the 20th anniversary of Face of Edo and the 16th edition of Face of the World Nigeria converging in 2026, stakeholders believe the events will set a new benchmark for community engagement and humanitarian service within Nigeria’s pageantry industry.

Interested contestants, sponsors, and partners can obtain further information through the organizers’ official communication channels.