The 2026 Little Mister and Miss Africa Continental pageant finals will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from March 28 to April 4, and Little Miss Africa Nigeria, 11-year-old Andrene Malafa-Emile, is gearing up to make Nigeria proud and leave a powerful mark internationally at the competition.

The event, which celebrates African culture and young talent, will take place at the Argyle Grand Hotel, Nairobi.

Queen Andrene will be representing Nigeria in the Little Category: ages 10 to 12, and is optimistic about bringing the crown to Nigeria.

Speaking on how it feels to be representing Nigeria in the Little Mister and Miss Africa competition in Kenya, she said, “I am so excited, and it’s a great honour and privilege to be representing my country, Nigeria, in the competition in Kenya. It’s a mixture of pride, responsibility and excitement. But it’s an honour to carry the values and image of the country on a global stage. I intend to showcase my country’s best aspects and foster positive interaction with others, and I hope to bring honour and glory to my country, Nigeria.

She also expressed how excited she is in anticipation of meeting children from other African countries and the possibility of collaborating with them on projects that would be of mutual benefit to them.

“I am looking forward to meeting fellow contestants from other African countries, to share ideas and possibly collaborate in bringing a positive and impactful change in our little way to the continent, Africa, the next frontier. I have my parents’ support already, but I hope to have our government’s support and also the corporate organisations in our projects,” she said.