It was a night of glitz and glamour as maritime industry stakeholders, captains of industry and heads of government agencies gathered in their numbers to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Face of Maritime International, FOMI at the prestigious Villa Angelia, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday.
The event which also marked the grand finale of the FOMI beauty pageant, further witnessed the conferment of awards and medals on some distinguished Nigerians who had supported the vision and goals of FOMI in ten years of its existence.
Speaking in a keynote address, a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Temisan Omatseye observed that FOMI had transformed from a mere pageant into an ecosystem of empowerment, producing queens, leaders, entrepreneurs, and advocates.
According to him, its impact could be measured not just in crowns but in scholarships, leadership awards, career opportunities, and industry awareness.
He however, recalled that when FOMI was first announced in 2016, it drew mixed reactions as some practitioners in the maritime industry thought it was too unconventional while others wondered how a beauty pageant could possibly link with freight, shipping, and logistics.
“Yet behind the skepticism lay a vision—one that sought to bridge two worlds that rarely met: the maritime sector and youth empowerment through pageantry.
“Ten years on, that vision has not only survived but thrived. FOMI has become a symbol of empowerment for young women, a platform where beauty and intelligence intersect, and a movement that has reshaped lives.
“The journey has been marked by resilience, creativity, and courage. From the modest halls of the Nigerian Shippers Council in Apapa to glittering finales in Lagos, FOMI has grown into a brand that carries weight within and beyond the maritime sector”, Omatseye said.
The former NIMASA boss maintained that despite all the doubts, the founder of FOMI, Mr. Sylvanus Obasi, believed young women could be ambassadors of the maritime industry as he wanted them to carry its message into spaces where it was often invisible.
“At first, many dismissed the concept. How could a maritime beauty queen make a difference in an industry dominated by ships, ports, and cargo? But Obasi pressed on, undeterred. He knew that with consistency, support, and the right partnerships, FOMI would carve a space of its own.
“The first auditions were far from glamorous. Contestants braved Lagos traffic, rushed through rehearsals, and competed under modest conditions. Yet the fire in their eyes was undeniable. By the time the first set of queens emerged, something new had been born. A movement had started, and over the next decade, it would grow stronger with every edition”, he stated.
Speaking on the contestants as the true story of FOMI, Omatseye relieved how some contestants including Queen Adaeze Obodozie Glory, Miss Ikeru Happiness, Miss Francis Precious, Queen Oyinkansola Ologunwa and Miss Rebecca Akintimehin testified to how FOMI gave them opportunity to pursue their life’s dream through scholarship, empowerment and career opportunities .
Speaking further, he stated that one of FOMI’s most impactful initiatives had been the Girls Go-To-Sea Campaign which he said was designed to inspire younger students as it brought maritime education to schools.
“In February 2025, the campaign visited Anglican Comprehensive College in Ipaja. Experts like Capt. Rotimi Ogunsakin and Engr. Glory Omeaku spoke on maritime careers. During the session, a student, Agu Gold, impressed the team with her explanation of the law of flotation. Inspired, Engr. Omeaku paid her next term’s school fees of ₦255,000.
“Earlier, at Vivian Fowler Memorial College in Ikeja, Capt. Sunday Umoren awarded $100 to two students who answered maritime questions correctly”, noted.
On the visionary, he said, “Behind all of this stands Mr. Obasi, who endured skepticism but remained firm. Contestants describe him as approachable and deeply committed. For many, he is not just an organiser but a mentor who believed in them when few others did.”
Insisting that FOMI’s success was not a solo effort, he said, “It has relied heavily on industry associations like NAGAFF, ANLCA, and the Nigerian Railway Corporation. These bodies not only sponsored contestants but also introduced them to the workings of freight forwarding, customs, and rail transport. Through these partnerships, contestants gained both exposure and belonging within the maritime industry.”
“The campaign has enjoyed strong support from leaders like Hadiza Bala Usman and organisations like the Maritime Workers Union, Lagos Port Complex, and LTT Coastal and Marine Services. Their backing has ensured that maritime is no longer a male-dominated story. Girls are being told—and shown—that they, too, have a place at sea”, he added.
Describing Hajia Bola Muse as a trailblazer, Omatseye maintained that Hajia Muse’s support to FOMI remained legendary as according to him, “Her sponsorship of the Leadership Award in 2019 left contestants inspired.”
“She gave us her time. She made us feel seen and valued”, he quoted one of the contestants speaking about Hajia Bola Muse adding that her presence proved that established leaders could bridge the gap with the next generation.
“Equally impactful is Mrs. Rollens Macfoy, CEO of Ocean Deep Services Limited. Her scholarships have changed multiple lives. For Francis and Rebecca, her generosity meant continuing education without fear. For many others, she symbolizes hope, compassion, and true mentorship.”
He argued that as FOMI entered its second decade, the challenge was how to scale its impact even further, saying that Nigeria’s maritime sector was expanding, and women’s roles would be critical.
“FOMI intends to ensure they are part of this growth. With stronger partnerships, more outreach, and continued resilience, the next ten years promise even greater transformation”, he submitted.
Earlier in his remarks, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Face of Maritime International, Mr. Sylvanus Obasi while welcoming thee guests, equally appreciated the representatives of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Sea Transport, ANLCA, NAGAFF, NIWA, LTT Coastal and Marine Limited, Nigerian Association of Stevedoring Operators, NPCC and indeed, the awardees insisting that the story of the Face of Maritime International would not be complete without mentioning each and everyone of those organizations.
“This is an anniversary of appreciation and I will take my time to appreciate every organization seated in this hall. And the reason is simple, when we started this vision in 2016, it was like, what concerns maritime with pageantry. A lot of people could not understand why we are bringing entertainment into a profession such as maritime but as time goes on, when we started our pet project, “The Girl Go To Sea”, it became clear to a lot of individuals that “Oh! This is actually a campaign to draw the attention of young girls into the maritime sector.
“And we can proudly tell you that over the last ten years, we have been able to convince and bring a lot of young girls who hitherto do not know about maritime to say I want to become a maritime professional. So, on this note, I want to say thank you to everyone who has been part of our success story.
“We thank the individuals who we are honouring today, especially our role model ambassador. I remember in 2016, when we started audition at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, our role model ambassador today (Chief Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere SAN) would readily give us a keynote address to the contestants on introduction to maritime and I could see how she was looking at the young models and the young girls as they were doing their catwalk at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. Thank you so much madam.
“My joy is that ten years after, we are coming back to tell you that this vision that you were part of has become a success story”, he said.
In her welcome address, the Chairperson of the 2025 FOMI Planning Committee, Hajia Bola Muse while welcoming and appreciating everyone present at the occasion submitted that FOMI has grown significantly in the past ten years saying, “we are proud of our achievements and grateful for the support of our members, partners and stakeholders.”
“As we celebrate this milestone, we are reminded of the power of collaboration, innovation and community. Let us use this occasion to reflect on our journey, celebrate our success and to look forward to a better future”, she added.
Crowning of the new FOMI Queens, conferment of awards and medals, cultural displays, goodwill messages and decoration of Chief Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere SAN as the FOMI Role Model Ambassador formed the highlights of the event.
Photo 1: Mr. Sylvanus Obasi, founder/CEO, Face of Maritime International (4th from right) cutting the anniversary cake with the newly crowned FOMI Queens while Hajia Bola Muse, Chairperson of the FOMI 2025 Planning Committee (2nd from left) and others look on.
Photo 2: Hajia Bola Muse, Chairperson, FOMI 2025 Planning Committee (5th from right) in a group photograph with some of the female guests at the event in Lagos on Friday.
Photo 3: Barr. Temisan Omatseye, former NIMASA DG presenting the FOMI 2025 Role Model Ambassador to Chief Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere SAN during the event in Lagos on Friday.
Photo 4: Cross section of NAGAFF ladies at the event in Lagos on Friday.
Send your press invite, news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @PrimetimeRepor1 and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526.
