A new beauty pageant, Miss NANS Nigeria, aimed at promoting peace and violence-free learning environments across the country, is set to debut, organisers announced on Friday in Abuja.
The initiative is being organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in collaboration with Messengers of Peace (MOP), an international peace agency.
With the theme “Sustaining Long-Lasting Peace through the Promotion of Decent/Violence-Free Learning Institutions,” the organisers said nationwide auditions will be held ahead of a grand finale in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NANS National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, said the pageant seeks to highlight the leadership, intellect, and peace-building capacity of Nigerian students in higher institutions.
“The theme underscores the urgent need to tackle campus violence, cultism, drug abuse, harassment, and other vices threatening peace and academic progress,” Adeyemi stated.
He explained that the contest aims to produce student leaders and peace ambassadors who will campaign for safer and more decent campuses. He also urged government, school authorities, civil society, and the public to support the initiative.
Auditions will be held in three zones: Lagos for South-West states, Akwa Ibom for South-South and South-East, and Abuja for all northern states. A hundred students will be chosen per zone for final auditions, after which 100 contestants will move into camp. From there, 60 finalists will compete at the grand finale.
Seven winners will emerge, one from each geopolitical zone and one overall Miss NANS Nigeria. Each of the six runners-up will receive ₦1 million and a laptop, while the overall winner will receive ₦1 million and a brand-new car.
MOP National President, Dr. Suleiman Adejoh, described the pageant as a blend of “beauty and brain” that encourages students to embrace leadership, creativity, and cultural awareness while contributing to peace-building.
He noted that one of the pageant’s unique features will be the use of local dialects during screening to promote indigenous languages and cultural pride alongside academic excellence and peace advocacy.
