Focused on human capacity development, the organisers of Face of Independence Beauty Pageant and Hero’s Award have announced the 2025 edition during a cocktail event in Lagos recently to officially mark the beginning of the pageantry season, while the grand finale holds on October 11, 2025, at the Grand Ballroom of Eko Hotel & Suites Lagos.
The event is a blend pageantry with purpose, fostering national pride while empowering young Nigerians to become agents of change. The event, which brought together dignitaries, sponsors, past beauty queens, award nominees, and patriotic guests, marked the formal unveiling of the upcoming season of the pageant and its accompanying national Hero’s Award.
The Convener and Executive Producer, Catherine Oloidi, highlighted the initiative’s longstanding commitment to national development through youth empowerment. She said: “For the past 15 years, the Face of Independence Beauty Pageant has stood as a bridge between generations, nurturing young minds through education, entrepreneurship, and empowerment.
“We are driven by a single purpose: to develop human capacity and lift our youth beyond the margins of poverty, towards national pride, productivity, and purpose.”
Oloidi also announced that the audition tour for the 2025 pageant will begin in Cross River State on August 13, followed by Port Harcourt [August 16], Imo State [August 19], Enugu [August 23], Abuja [August 27], and Lagos [August 30].
She also unveiled the grand prize for the 2025 winner, a prized Lexus SUV, which was proudly on display at the event venue, symbolising the prestige and reliability of the Face of Independence brand.
Beyond the glamour of the pageant, the event also celebrated the Face of Independence Hero’s Award, a growing platform dedicated to recognising exemplary Nigerians who embody the spirit of patriotism, resilience, and national service. “We don’t just recognise these heroes; we amplify their stories to ignite a movement of national rebirth,” Oloidi declared.
A major highlight of the evening was the official unveiling of Anastasia Ugbaka as the 2025 Pageant Ambassador.
Face of independence 2025 journey begins
Project Director, Coco-Bassey Ikpeme (left); Assistant Director-Production, Kaka Umoh; Executive Producer, Barr. Catherine Oloidi and 2025 Pageant Ambassador, Barr. Anastasia Ugbaka during the event held in Lagos recently.
