By Prosper Mene
The Miss Nigeria Organisation has issued a public apology to Nollywood veteran Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde following a tense and awkward encounter with a young presenter that went viral over the weekend.
The incident occurred during the red-carpet segment of the 46th Miss Nigeria Patrons & Board Dinner held in Lagos on Sunday. In the circulating video, the inexperienced presenter approached the 48-year-old actress and asked her to introduce herself while live on camera. A visibly frustrated Omotola responded curtly, told the presenter โDonโt touch me,โ and briefly attempted to walk away before relenting. The clip sparked widespread reactions online, with many criticising the presenterโs approach as disrespectful to a respected industry icon.
In a statement released on Tuesday via Instagram and shared widely, the Miss Nigeria Organisation, chaired by actress Rita Dominic, distanced itself from the presenter and offered a heartfelt apology.
โFirst and foremost, we wish to publicly extend our sincerest apologies to Omotola for the discomfort she experienced. She is a deeply valued member of the Miss Nigeria community and a close friend who has spent decades opening doors for young creatives,โ the statement read.
The organisation made it clear that the individual in the clip was not an accredited or invited media representative for the exclusive private event.
โWe wish to state categorically that the person featured in the video was not officially invited or accredited to cover or conduct interviews at the Patrons & Board Dinner. The event is a closed, high-profile gathering, and all media interactions were strictly managed by our designated team,โ it emphasised.
The Miss Nigeria team described Omotola as a โcultural iconโ and reiterated their respect for her contributions to the Nigerian entertainment industry over the years.
Social media users have been divided, with some defending Omotolaโs reaction as understandable given her stature, while others felt the presenter was simply nervous or inexperienced. The swift response from the organisers appears to have calmed some of the backlash.
As of Tuesday evening, Omotola herself had not publicly commented on the apology.
This development comes as Miss Nigeria continues preparations for its 2026 edition, with the organisation keen to maintain its reputation for elegance and professionalism at its events.
