Rita Dominic Takes over Miss Nigeria Pageant

By Vanessa Obioha

After 16 years of organising the foremost beauty pageant in Nigeria, Miss Nigeria, Folio Communications is passing the torch to leading production company The Audrey Silva Company (TASC) owned by actress and producer Rita Dominic and renowned film director Mildred Okwo.

“The Miss Nigeria Pageant is a true representation of One Nigeria,” said Dominic. “The platform has over the years empowered young women from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions, and 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.”

Dominic 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, adding “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, speaking on this pivotal moment in the history of the pageant, praised the original creators of Miss Nigeria and Chief Atinuke Oyelude, the first Miss Nigeria, who will celebrate her 93rd birthday on November 16. Anosike, however, believes it’s time for new hands to guide Miss Nigeria, and he sees TASC as the ideal organisation to continue the legacy.

“Who better to take it to the next level than my delectable wife Rita Dominic and The Audrey Silva Company,” said Anosike. “I am confident that she will take the pageant higher to the pride of Nigeria. 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.”

Known for her intellect, fashion and style, Dominic is expected to elevate the status of the historic pageant working alongside Mildred Okwo, with whom she founded TASC, a production company well renowned for its quality content which spans films, television and now pageants. TASC boasts a reputation for producing some of Nollywood’s best films, such as ‘The Meeting’ and ‘La Femme Anjola.’

“Our task at Audrey Silva is to create a product that is capable of not only empowering young Nigerian women but also exciting an entirely new generation raised on all the digital advancements in the world today. We are aware that there are all kinds of content holding them captive today, but we will make pageants fun again for a new generation of viewers” said Mildred Okwo. Managing Director of TASC.

The long-term partnership will see Dominic chair an all-new board of directors filled with highly accomplished leaders of industry. The members include former Miss Nigeria, Financial guru and founder of ACubed Limited, Wunmi Ogunbiyi; veteran producer, actress and founder of Temple Productions, Ego Boyo; Country Managing Director for Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, Olatomiwa Williams; Associate Vice President, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Aisha Kyari; Asset Manager and founder of Modd Management Company, Chioma Okigbo; and Entrepreneur Senami Ibori.

Miss Nigeria, established in 1957 by the national newspaper Daily Times, began as an annual pageant celebrating the positive attributes of Nigerian women and awarding university scholarships. The winner serves as an exemplary role model for other young women to follow. In recent years, the pageant has embraced inclusivity and diversity, as seen in the recent crowning of Shatu Garko, the first Muslim to win the pageant. The pageant will now operate under a new business entity known as Miss Nigeria 1957 Enterprises aka Miss Nigeria Organisation.