Get Guardian on GoogleEight years after first welcoming Tanzania’s Jihan Dimack to Nigeria, Amb. Tomi Salami is preparing to receive her again this time as the first African woman to win the Miss Grand International crown.
The reunion, a humanitourism campaign scheduled for November 18–22, themed Experience Lagos 2026, is conceived and convened by Salami, a former beauty queen, international host, entrepreneur and President of the Aurora International Charity Foundation (AICF).
Queen Jihan, who was crowned in Bangkok on October 10, 2026, will visit alongside President of MGI and one of Asia’s leading entertainment and business figures, Sir Nawat Itsaragrisil. According to Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen, Jihan’s voting campaign drew more than 116 million comments on a single Instagram post.
For Salami, the visit represents a deeply personal milestone.
”We welcomed Jihan to Nigeria in 2018, long before this historic win. To bring her back eight years later as a continental trailblazer is a profoundly personal full-circle moment,” she said. “It reminds me why we must keep opening doors for African women and young people.”
At the heart of the campaign is the Inspire Africa Education & Empowerment Initiative, designed to reach 5,000 young Lagosians through mentorship, education support, dignity kits and practical engagement.
The programme will also feature a grand welcome, a World Press Presentation, courtesy visits to distinguished personalities, Lagos heritage experiences and showcases spotlighting Nigerian fashion and creativity.
Salami’s humanitourism vision merges international cultural exchange, destination promotion and direct humanitarian action, an approach she has refined through AICF’s work. The Foundation reports reaching more than 50,000 beneficiaries and hosting distinguished guests from over ten countries.
”I want Experience Lagos to be remembered for what it made possible. We are using global attention to celebrate Lagos, tell an African success story and create tangible opportunities for our young people.”
Experience Lagos 2026 builds on that record with a renewed emphasis on African excellence, cultural diplomacy and measurable social impact.
Salami brings Africa’s first Miss Grand International winner to Lagos
