After 16 years of organising the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant, Folio Communications is passing the torch to The Audrey Silva Company (TASC), which is owned by actress Rita Dominic and film director Mildred Okwo.
Folio Communications is founded by Fidelis Anosike, who is the husband of Dominic.
In a statement on Saturday, Dominic said she is proud of what her husband “has done with the brand for 16 long years”.
The Nollywood star added that Anosike “is handing over the reins to me and partnering with TASC”.
The actress pointed out that her 25 years of film production experience in the entertainment industry has equipped her with the skills and knowledge necessary to take on Miss Nigeria.
“The Miss Nigeria Pageant is a true representation of One Nigeria. The platform has over the years empowered young women from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions,” she said.
“I am proud of what my husband, Mr Fidelis Anosike, founder of Folio Communications and Publisher of Daily Times newspaper has done with the brand for 16 long years. I am pleased to announce that he is handing over the reins to me and partnering with TASC.
“I believe I have acquired the skills and knowledge suitable for this partnership. I have been on board with him for a couple of years watching and learning from him and others. I look forward to the next phase of Miss Nigeria.”
Anosike, while congratulating Dominic, said he is “confident that she will take the pageant higher to the pride of Nigeria”.
“Who better to take it to the next level than my delectable wife Rita Dominic and The Audrey Silva Company, I am confident that she will take the pageant higher to the pride of Nigeria,” he said.
“We welcome the Audrey Silva company into the Miss Nigeria 1957 partnership with great expectation which will be for the Miss Nigeria platform to transition into an empowerment trust for young Nigerian women.”
Dominic tied the knot with Fidelis in the United Kingdom on November 26, 2022.
Miss Nigeria is an annual pageant showcasing the positive attributes of Nigerian women. It was founded in 1957 and originally started as a photo contest.
Anosike’s Daily Times newspaper rebranded the Miss Nigeria franchise in 2007.
The current titleholder is hijab model Shatu Garko, who represented the north-east in 2021. She is the first Muslim winner.
The pageant will now be operated under a new business entity known as Miss Nigeria 1957 Enterprises.
Miss Nigeria is also a different beauty pageant to Sliverbird’s Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria.
