Contestants representing key maritime institutions face fresh tests of leadership, knowledge and industry awareness ahead of the grand finale
The contest for the Blue Queen crown in Season 11 of Face of Maritime International (FOMI) has moved into a decisive phase, with 12 contestants securing places in the competition’s institutional camping programme.
The official list released by the organisers features 12 young women who will advance to the next stage, where they are expected to undergo a series of activities and assessments designed to test their abilities ahead of the grand finale.
Leading the successful contestants is Esther Akitoye (Contestant 007), who represents the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as Miss NIMASA. Her qualification follows an impressive performance in the three-week Popularity Test, where she emerged winner with 56 per cent of the votes.
Stella Bassey (Contestant 010), representing the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANCLA) as Miss ANCLA, also secured a camping spot, alongside Adejoke Adebayo (Contestant 003), who represents the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as Miss NPA.
Other successful contestants include Ifeoluwa Ige (Contestant 001), representing L.T.T Coastal and Marine Services Ltd as Miss L.T.T; Rokibat Olaoye (Contestant 005), representing the Nigeria Customs Service as Miss Customs; and Adesewa Odunewu (Contestant 002), representing the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) as Miss NIWA.
The list also features Chidera Anyaorah (Contestant 013), representing the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) as Miss MWUN; Emmanuella Obidigbo (Contestant 015), representing the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) as Miss NPERA; and Priscillia Nambam (Contestant 014), representing the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) as Miss CRFFN.
Completing the list are Vivian Chibuikem (Contestant 012), representing the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as Miss NRC; Chiamaka Nelson (Contestant 006), representing the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) as Miss NAGAFF; and Oluwatimilehin Alarape (Contestant 011), representing SIFAX Group as Miss SIFAX.
Beyond the glamour and fashion associated with beauty pageants, FOMI has positioned the competition as a platform for promoting maritime awareness, leadership development, environmental consciousness and the empowerment of young women as ambassadors of the maritime industry.
The institutional camping programme is therefore expected to provide more than a conventional beauty contest experience. It will offer the contestants an opportunity to demonstrate their intelligence, confidence, discipline, teamwork, communication abilities and knowledge of the maritime sector.
With 12 contestants now through to the camping stage, the competition is set for another round of rivalry as each participant seeks to distinguish herself and strengthen her claim to the ultimate title.
Although Akitoye’s victory in the Popularity Test gave her an early advantage in public support, the race for the Blue Queen crown remains open, with the next stage expected to test qualities beyond popularity.
As the countdown to the grand finale continues, the focus will be on which of the 12 contestants can combine personality, industry knowledge, purpose and leadership capacity to emerge as the next Face of Maritime International and a worthy ambassador of Nigeria’s maritime industry.