In a move that feels less like a business decision and more like the fulfilment of a destiny, Collete Nwadike, the new CEO of Miss Tourism Nigeria, has woven her life’s tapestry into the very fabric of the nation’s story.
Her first major act—forging a strategic partnership with the Visit Nigeria Initiative for the 2026 pageant—is a profound homecoming, a moment where the student, the queen, the artist, and the leader converge to build a platform greater than herself.
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Nwadike’s journey to this pinnacle is a testament to relentless faith. Her story began not in a boardroom, but in the dreams of a young girl inspired by icons like Bianca Ojukwu. The path was not smooth; it was paved with setbacks in early pageants that would have deterred a lesser spirit. Yet, she persisted, her eyes fixed on a horizon of purpose.
Victory finally came in 2014 when she was crowned Miss Tourism Nigeria, an achievement that was immediately channelled into service.
Merely a month later, she was appointed Special Assistant on Tourism to the Anambra State Government, a role she dedicated herself to for eight transformative years. There, she moved beyond the glamour, contributing to policy, destination branding, and cultural showcases, learning that true beauty lies in the legacy you build.
Her ascension to CEO represents a beautiful, full-circle evolution of that legacy. She now leads the very platform that launched her, with a vision to expand it from a traditional pageant into a “business and a platform for transformation.”
Her diverse journey—encompassing pageantry, public service, and success as a Nollywood actress and producer—uniquely equips her for this mission. This holistic understanding of culture, from governance to grassroots storytelling, is the soul she brings to her leadership.
The landmark partnership with the Visit Nigeria Initiative is the first fruit of this visionary leadership. It is a philosophical alignment, merging the human-centred narrative power of the pageant with a national tourism strategy.
Under Nwadike’s guidance, the Miss Tourism Nigeria crown has become a symbol of ambassadorship, where every queen is a storyteller for the nation’s unity and peace.
Nwadike’s story is a powerful reminder that the most impactful leadership is often born from a personal dream patiently nurtured through varied seasons of life. She returns to the stage as a living embodiment of the platform’s potential—a former queen who mastered the arts of governance and creativity, now ready to mentor a new generation.
In her hands, Miss Tourism Nigeria is being reborn as a powerful engine of national pride, where every young woman’s dream is intertwined with the story of Nigeria itself.
The call for entries for the 2026 edition now invites young women to join “a movement driven by purpose,” reflecting this new, elevated mission.
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