Abuja: Miss FCT, Queen Sarah Okli, has emerged winner of the 2025 Face of Tourism beauty pageant.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Okli edged out 10 other contestants to clinch the highly coveted crown at the grand finale of the competition on Saturday in Abuja. The event, which was held at the Armed Forces Officers Mess, Lungi Barracks, featured contestants from various states.
The first runner-up, Miss Kaduna, Queen Theresa Jonathan, was crowned Miss Tradition 2025, while the second runner-up, Miss Enugu, Queen Laura Eze, was crowned Face of Tourism Ambassador 2025. Additionally, Miss Akwa Ibom, Queen Anita Emmanuel, was crowned the Face of Tourism North 2025.
The night was marked by significant participation from stakeholders in the culture and tourism sector, showbiz entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders who gathered for the tourism fiesta. In her address, Jane Ochanya, Founder and CEO of Free Image Humanitarian Foundation, congratulated the new tourism queen and encouraged her to use her reign to promote Nigeria's rich tourism potential.
Ochanya emphasized the importance of the event in highlighting Nigeria's tourism sector and urged relevant stakeholders, particularly the federal government, to recognize tourism's role in the national economy. She noted the potential of the tourism and creative sectors as alternatives for economic diversification.
Ochanya also called on all levels of government to increase funding for the tourism sector in alignment with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. As a former beauty pageant winner, Ochanya expressed her motivation to organize the pageant to provide positive direction and exposure to youths, especially girls.
She highlighted the importance of the Face of Tourism beauty pageant in creating awareness about the economic potentials of the tourism industry, particularly in terms of job creation for idle Nigerian youths and as a catalyst for economic growth and development.