Category: Entertainment

Art Meets Health: NSSF and Partners launch ‘A Mural of Hope’ to inspire Healing ,tackle Childhood Cancer burde

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In a powerful blend of creativity and compassion, the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) has launched the ‘A Mural of Hope’ campaign an advocacy-driven initiative aimed at promoting healing through art while addressing the alarming burden of childhood cancer in Nigeria. The campaign, launched in partnership with Bio Ventures for Global Health (BVGH), BLFA Global, and the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, seeks to engage young artists in transforming the paediatric oncology ward of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) into a beacon of hope and resilience. At the heart of…

JUST IN: Highlife Legend Mike Ejeagha dies at 95 after 16-year battle with Prostate Cancer

Emporium Reporters

Veteran Nigerian highlife musician and folklorist, Mike Ejeagha, fondly known as “Gentleman Mike Ejeagha,” has passed away at the age of 95 after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer.   His death was confirmed on Saturday by his eldest son, Emma Ejeagha, who revealed that the music legend died at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 6, at the 32 Garrison Hospital in Enugu.   “My father passed away due to a long-standing ailment,” Emma said. “He died at exactly 8 p.m. on Friday, and his body has been deposited…

Nike Okundaye: a culture architect from Ogidi to the world,by Omoniyi Ibietan, PhD

Emporium Reporters

Aunty Nike Okundaye, the Yeye Oba of Ogidi Ijumu, the land of my father, is 74 today and I so revel in telling a bit of her story which is still unfolding having just received another garland, alongside Prof. Soyinka, from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate for their contributions to the Nigerian and global art. In 1995, Kim Marie Vaz, author of WALKING RADDY: THE BABY DOLLS OF NEW ORLEANS, a professor of education who’s concurrently a Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Xavier University…

The billions I found in Nollywood, by Funke Egbemode

Emporium Reporters

I interviewed Yinka Quadri and Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo) on the same day. I still remember the red Peugeot 505 they drove to the Onipetesi office of The Punch that evening. Yes, they honoured this reporter and interviewed them in the office at Onipetesi. I was a regular at Tunji Bamisigbin’s and Ralph Nwadike’s office. It was a productive hunting ground for me to catch both budding and made actors. It was there I was first drawn to Funsho Adeolu because of the Adegeye in his name. Oga Bello Adebayo Salami,…

Prof Emenyonu hails TY Buratai Literary Award to Cyprian Ekwensi as historic honour

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Renowned African literary scholar, Professor Ernest N. Emenyonu, has lauded the T.Y. Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI) for honouring legendary Nigerian author, Cyprian O.D. Ekwensi, with a posthumous award, described it as a “historic honour” and a “timely intervention” in Nigeria’s literary development. The award, conferred under the TYBLI Young Adult Literature category, was announced by the Initiative as part of its efforts to celebrate literary pioneers whose works have shaped the nation’s cultural and educational landscape. In a letter addressed to the Chairman of TYBLI and the Tukur & Tukur…

Tension in Mgbom N’Achara as Council Chairman disrupts Ezeship selection, assaults State Official

Lukman Laleye Babalola

What was meant to be a peaceful selection process for a traditional ruler in Mgbom N’Achara, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, turned chaotic on Wednesday, May 1, 2025, following the alleged violent interference by the Council Chairman, Hon. Chinonso Aja Consider.   The exercise, held at Mgbom Central School, Okposi, was organized by the community to select a new Eze (traditional ruler) through its age-old kindred-based voting system. Residents said the election began smoothly under the supervision of a local electoral committee led by Dr. Aja Uwa, a…

Edo State Govt reinstates South Ibie Monarch, revokes Two Traditional Rulership Appointments

Emporium Reporters

The Edo State Executive Council has announced a series of major decisions affecting traditional leadership in the state, including the reinstatement of a previously removed monarch and the revocation of two other appointments.   At its meeting held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, the Council approved the revocation of the appointment of Umoru Inusa Umoru as the Aidenogie of South Ibie in Etsako West Local Government Area. The decision was based on the fact that the traditional stool was never declared vacant prior to his appointment. As a result, Alhaji…

NBC bans Eedris Abdulkareem’s Protest Song ‘Tell Your Papa’ from Broadcast Media

Emporium Reporters

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has banned the protest song “Tell Your Papa” by veteran Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem from airing on radio and television stations across the country.   In a memo dated April 9, 2025, and signed by the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, the NBC declared the song as “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB) under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, citing its “objectionable nature.”   “The National Broadcasting Commission has identified the song ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, currently trending on social…

Jaymoni partners with NUJ FCT to promote Music and Entertainment Industry

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In a move aimed at boosting Nigeria’s vibrant music and entertainment sector, rising star and CEO of Jaytech Group of Companies, Amb. Christopher Ogar, popularly known as Jaymoni, has partnered with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council. Jaymoni, who is known for his hit track “Congratulations”, paid a courtesy visit to the NUJ FCT Council Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, where he was warmly received by the Council Chairperson, Comrade Grace Ike, and Secretary, Comrade Jide Oyekunle. The multi-talented artist and entrepreneur congratulated Comrade Ike…

Hajiya Sa’adatu Sani Musa honored with Yoruba Traditional title for promoting cultural unity

Emporium Reporters

The wife of Niger East Senator, Hajiya Sa’adatu Sani Musa 313, has been conferred with the prestigious Yoruba traditional title of “Yeye of Yorubas” in recognition of her generosity and unwavering support for Yoruba cultural activities in Niger State.   The title, which translated to “Lover of the Yorubas,” was bestowed upon her by the Sarkin Yarbawa of Minna, Alhaji Abdulrazak Abdulkarim (Iyayi), in appreciation of her continuous contributions to the Yoruba community within the state. The Yoruba Forum, a prominent socio-cultural group, officially presented the title to her at…