My Victory As Industry President Is Progress For Nigeria

  PAGEANT INDUSTRY GETS NEW PRESIDENT TO LEAD IT INTO GREATNESS

A

 

ADAMS TANKO Reporting Live from Benin City Edo State Nigeria.

The Nigerian pageant and fashion industry has entered a new era of transformation and hope as Mr. Olufunsho Alexander Ajagbonna, popularly known as King Fajag, emerged as the new National President of the Association of Beauty Pageant, Parade, Fashion and Exhibition Organisation of Nigeria (ABPFEON).

The election and inauguration ceremony, held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Tovia Hotel & Suites, GRA, Benin City, Edo State, attracted industry stakeholders, pageant organizers, fashion entrepreneurs, and creative professionals from across the country.

The event themed “A New Mandate, A Stronger Future” marked a renewed commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s pageant and fashion sector as a vibrant contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while also ensuring integrity, professionalism, and accountability in its operations.

Over the past decade, the beauty and fashion industries have grown to become significant pillars in Nigeria’s creative economy. 

 

From beauty contests and fashion exhibitions to modeling agencies and design showcases, these industries have created thousands of jobs for young Nigerians from stylists, designers, photographers, and models to event planners, marketers, and content creators.

Economic experts estimate that the broader fashion and creative pageant sector contributes billions of naira annually to Nigeria’s GDP, serving as a tool for empowerment and national branding. The sector has also positioned Nigeria as a growing global hub for talent and style across Africa.

Speaking shortly after his victory, King Fajag emphasized his commitment to building on this momentum by introducing policies and reforms that will make the industry more structured, recognized, and respected both locally and internationally.

In his first address as president, King Fajag announced that his administration would prioritize the registration and accreditation of all pageant and fashion event organizers operating across Nigeria. 

This initiative, he explained, will create a verifiable database of practitioners under ABPFEON and will help foster integrity, capacity building, and professionalism within the sector.

 “We will ensure that every pageant and fashion organization in Nigeria is properly registered with ABPFEON,” he said.

“This will help us set standards, promote ethics, and protect our members and participants. 

We want to rebuild public trust and make the pageant industry one of the most respected creative sectors in Nigeria.”

King Fajag further noted that his administration would collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies to eliminate all forms of exploitation, fraud, and unethical practices sometimes associated with unregulated beauty contests.

Shortly after his election, King Fajag paid a courtesy visit to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, where he reiterated his commitment to ensuring that only credible, registered, and law-abiding organizers will be allowed to operate under ABPFEON.

He appealed for partnership and institutional support from the police to help sanitize the industry and safeguard participants, particularly young women, from abuse or manipulation.

“We must restore confidence in the pageant and fashion industry,” King Fajag declared.

“With strong collaboration with the police and other regulatory agencies, we can clean up the negative sides of the business and build a platform that promotes Nigeria’s image globally.”

In response, the Commissioner of Police commended the new president’s proactive approach and promised full cooperation by providing security support whenever needed.

The National Electoral Committee of ABPFEON, in a statement signed by its officials, described the election as free, fair, and transparent, noting that all issues previously affecting the Edo State Chapter and the national executive had been resolved before the polls.

The committee also reaffirmed that the election was conducted in line with the association’s constitutional mandate and expressed confidence in King Fajag’s leadership to elevate the pageant industry into a new phase of recognition and prosperity.

With another three-year term to lead the association, King Fajag promised to use his office to empower practitioners, foster partnerships, and build a globally competitive industry that mirrors the standards of developed nations like the United States and the United Kingdom.

“This new term is about service, accountability, and legacy, he said.

“We are not just organizing beauty pageants we are building an industry that represents Nigeria’s creativity, culture, and global potential.”

As ABPFEON begins this new chapter, stakeholders are optimistic that under King Fajag’s leadership, the Nigerian pageant and fashion industry will continue to evolve, creating more opportunities for youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and cultural diplomacy.

Indeed, the pageant sector is no longer just about beauty and glamour; it is fast becoming a creative economic force capable of shaping narratives, promoting tourism, and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global fashion and entertainment landscape.

With the theme “A New Mandate, A Stronger Future, ABPFEON appears ready to turn that vision into reality, one pageant at a time.