The founder and chief executive officer of Platinum Entertainment Nigeria Limited has said that her organisation was poised to unifying Africa through pageantry.

Olyinka Fatima Edu gave the assurance yesterday as she introduced a soon-to-hold maiden pan-African beauty pageant christened, ‘Belle of African Nations (BOAN),’ during a press conference held at the Joint Officers’ Mess in Kotu, Kanifing Municipality.

She said: “Africa in her own beauty is exclusively recognised for her fairness in dealings, solidarity, and co-ordination amongst her nations. Various organisations have been established to propel and unify all African countries. Few of these organisations include the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) and the African Union (AU). For example, the CAF Nations’ Cup is believed to come up so as to create continuity in the trend of unity and progress of the continent through sport. BOAN, in this respect, aligns with the goal of unifying Africa.

“However, BOAN also intends to add the missing link – carrying African women along in the affairs of the continent. Hence, Belle of African Nations can be seen as a unique medium for the socio-cultural unification of Africa. Belle of African Nations (BOAN) is the first of its kind as a socio-cultural Pan-African Beauty Pageant that aims to identify with the unforgettable legacies of African historical heroines, publicising their lives, times; struggles, challenges and victories to the world through entertainment, in such a way that beauty and brains are modelled to birth the heroines of our time.

“The exploits of African Heroines must not lay buried forever. Heroines like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, the Woman Activist whose feminism and democratic socialism led to the creation of The Abeokuta Women’s Union (AWU); Queen Ahmose-Nefertari (Co-founder of the glorious 18th century dynasty of KMT- called ”The greatest royal family that ever mounted a throne); Empress Candace of Meroe (Formidable and famous military leader); Nana Yaa Asantewa, Queen Amina of Zazzau (Zaria),Margaret Ekpo, Miriam Makeba, Queen Nzinga, Queen Makeda of Sheba, and countless unrecognised others must be remembered and celebrated.”

Belle of African Nations will be a glamorous pageant event that focuses on the unification of Africa through pageantry. The maiden edition of BOAN to be held in Lagos, Nigeria, is tagged ‘Heroine In The Midst Of Heroes’ in a bid to celebrate the uniqueness and heroism of a woman (Madame Efunroye Tinubu) who soared and dominated socio-political territories that were the reserves of men. The Gambia has been chosen as a take-off base and participants from all the African countries at the 2015 edition of BOAN will congregate in Banjul, from where they will take-off to Lagos, Nigeria.