The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • Afro-Soul artist Ureny debuts with first single ‘Melody’

    Afro-Soul artist Ureny debuts with first single ‘Melody’

    Nigerian Afro-Soul artist Ureny (real name Omoluyi Irene Joseph) has officially launched his music career with the release of his debut single “Melody” under NeverStop Records International.

    Born on December 30, 2006, in Rivers State and originally from Edo State, Ureny discovered his love for music at just seven years old. 

    Now, in 2025, he makes his professional entry into the industry, bringing a sound defined by authentic storytelling, raw emotion, and the essence of human connection.

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    Blessed with a smooth, expressive voice and a talent for storytelling, Ureny channels his introverted nature into music that resonates deeply. His artistry transcends entertainment, capturing the lived experiences of many across Africa through poignant and heartfelt songwriting.

    Melody is a piece of my soul’, Ureny shares. “It’s about expressing emotions that words alone can’t carry. That’s what I want my music to be; a voice for feelings we all share’’.

    With ‘Melody’ Ureny offers a compelling introduction to his Afro soul style which is rich, introspective and timeless. Backed by NeverStop Records, he’s currently preparing for the release of his debut EP ‘’An Intention’’ a project that promises to showcase his range, depth and unique artistic voice.

    As 2025 unfolds, Ureny is poised to become a powerful new voice in Nigerian music and one to watch on the Afro-Soul landscape.

  • Adekunle Gold unveils track list ahead of ‘FUJI’ album release

    Adekunle Gold unveils track list ahead of ‘FUJI’ album release

    Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold has released his tracklist ahead of his highly anticipated album “FUJI” on October 3.

    The album will feature 15 carefully crafted tracks that showcase his personal journey, lessons learned, and stories of love, loss, and identity.

    In a statement on Instagram, Adekunle Gold invited listeners to experience the music with open ears, allowing the songs to speak for themselves before revealing the features on October 6th.

    Read Also: I once wrote a song for Beyoncé, says Adekunle Gold

    Adekunle wrote, “15 songs carefully crafted for your ears. I want you to experience the music with open ears first, feel the stories, the emotions, the journey.

    “The features will be revealed on October 6th, but until then, let the songs speak for themselves. FUJI out October 3rd”.

    The album promises to be a cultural statement and a deeply personal project that blends traditional Fuji music with modern Afrobeats.

    With “FUJI,” Adekunle Gold aims to redefine Afrobeats and bring traditional Nigerian sounds to the global stage. 

  • Nigeria withdraws from 2026 Oscars race as NOSC declines film submission

    Nigeria withdraws from 2026 Oscars race as NOSC declines film submission

    The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has announced that Nigeria will not be submitting any film for the International Feature Film category at the 2026 Academy Awards.

    Although six films were submitted for consideration, the committee ruled that none met the standards required for global competition.

    In a statement, NOSC Chairperson Stephanie Linus cited a lack of creative and technical intentionality in Nigerian films as the reason for the decision.

    She, however, acknowledged the progress made so far and the growing awareness of international standards, while stressing the need for further development in the industry.

    “While Nigerian films have no doubt shown significant improvement and growing awareness of IFF standards, there is still a deficit in creative and technical intentionality that will improve their competitive potential for global awards,” she said.

    Read Also: 98th Oscars: Nigeria begins selection process for submission

    The committee plans to take proactive steps to encourage filmmakers to create with the Oscars in mind.

    “This is why the NOSC will be taking more proactive steps to encourage filmmakers to create with the Oscars in mind,” Linus stated.

    Linus encouraged Nigerian filmmakers to study previous International Feature Film-nominated works to deepen their understanding of the category’s expectations and strengthen future submissions.

    The NOSC has formally communicated its decision to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, expressing regret that no Nigerian film was deemed suitable for the category this year.

    The International Feature Film award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains at least 50 per cent non-English dialogue.

  • Adewale Ayuba denies divorce, paternity dispute allegations

    Adewale Ayuba denies divorce, paternity dispute allegations

    Veteran Fuji musician Adewale Ayuba has dismissed an online report alleging divorce and a paternity dispute with his wife, Azuka Ego.

    In a statement posted on Instagram, Ayuba’s management described the claims as “unfounded and baseless,” stressing that the couple has been happily married for over 30 years.

    The family condemned the report as a cheap attempt to smear Ayuba’s reputation and ridicule their unity, vowing not to let the attack on his integrity go unchallenged.

    They categorically denied any truth to the paternity scandal, branding it a fabrication, and highlighted the blogger’s error in claiming their marriage lasted only a year — a mistake they said further exposed the story’s falsehood.

    The statement reads, “Hello Everyone, our attention has been drawn to a baseless and malicious story circulating online, published by a faceless blogger, concerning Dr Adewale Ayuba’s family. This story makes outrageous claims about an alleged divorce from Dr Ayuba’s wife, Mrs. Azuka Ego Saliu Oke Ola (Nee Kwento), and a completely unfounded scandal regarding the paternity of their children, suggesting he “broke his silence” over some non-existent discovery.

    “We want to state this clearly and categorically to everyone who supports Dr Adewale Ayuba: There is absolutely no truth, not a single iota-in this cooked-up story. Dr Adewale Ayuba and his wife, Mrs Azuka Ego, are happily married, and their wonderful children are doing very well. The issue of paternity over their children has never, ever arisen in their marriage.

    “Furthermore, this reckless blogger stated their marriage only lasted one year. For the record, they have been happily married for well over thirty years! This fundamental error alone exposes the story as a complete fabrication.

    “This is nothing more than a cheap, despicable attempt to embarrass Dr Ayuba’s family, malign his character, and bring his united family to public ridicule”.

    According to them, Ayuba will be taking legal action against the blogger, consulting with lawyers to pursue all available remedies.

    “We want you all to know that we are currently consulting with our lawyers to pursue all available legal remedies against this irresponsible individual. We will not allow Dr Adewale Ayuba’s integrity to be attacked without consequences”, they added.

  • BBNaija S10: Kola banned from speaking after rule violation

    BBNaija S10: Kola banned from speaking after rule violation

    Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate Kola has been handed a strict penalty for breaching the show’s confidentiality rules.

    He was punished for disclosing details of a private conversation with Agent X on the red telephone, despite being warned not to share the content with fellow housemates.

    According to Big Brother, Kola will not be allowed to speak until further notice and can only communicate using a writing pad during conversations.

    The punishment was due to Kola’s decision to reveal some details of the conversation, which involved an offer of a luxury manicure and pedicure session worth N1 million, and he had turned down the offer.

    Big Brother announced the punishment, stating that Kola must write down his thoughts and have his housemates read them aloud before responding.

    Big Brother declared, “Kola, you discussed part of your conversation on the red telephone despite being warned that you weren’t to discuss it with any of your fellow housemates during the course of your stay in Big Brother’s house.

    “As punishment, you’re forbidden from speaking till further notice. For the duration of this punishment, you’re only to communicate by writing on the writing pad that Big Brother has provided, except when speaking to Big Brother.

    “Each time you’re involved in a conversation, you have to write on the writing pad, and the housemate you’re addressing must read your words aloud before responding, and that has to continue for the duration of the conversation”.

  • BBNaija’s Sabrina: Health challenges stopped me from reaching the finals

    BBNaija’s Sabrina: Health challenges stopped me from reaching the finals

    Former Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate, Sabrina Idukpaye, has said she would have made it to the finals if not for her forced exit from the show due to health issues.

    In an interview with The Beat FM, Sabrina expressed confidence in her performance and interactions during her time in the house, insisting she was destined to be a finalist.

    Her exit followed hospitalization over undisclosed health concerns. Although later declared medically fit, she claimed the show’s organizers denied her re-entry.

    Despite the setback, Sabrina expressed gratitude to MultiChoice and the Big Brother franchise for the platform and opportunity.

  • Don’t confess if you cheat on your wife – Teju Babyface advises men

    Don’t confess if you cheat on your wife – Teju Babyface advises men

    Media personality Teju Oyelakin, popularly known as Teju Babyface, has cautioned men against confessing infidelity to their spouses, warning that such disclosures could have catastrophic consequences.

    In a video message, Teju argued that confessions are often driven by guilt rather than genuine honesty, adding that they may end up damaging relationships instead of mending them.

    He said those who admit to cheating usually do so to ease their conscience or to trigger a reaction that could lead to the end of the relationship.

    “But the reality is, the truth is you are not being honest, no, you are being manipulative. If honesty were your greatest strength, then you would at least be honest with yourself as to why you want to confess. The reason you want to confess is not because you are honest,” he said.

    Teju Babyface added that confessing to a spouse about cheating serves no real benefit to them but rather serves the confessor’s interests.

    “The reason is that the weight of guilt, guilty conscience, is killing you, and you are looking to share it with somebody. You are looking for somebody else to bear the burden with you or you’re trying consciously or subconsciously to sabotage your relationship and you are hoping that by telling them, by telling your wife or your husband, your spouse, your partner, your significant other, you are hoping they will do exactly what most people do, that they will go up in flames and torpedo and grenade and scatter the relationship. That’s what you’re hoping for. In other words, there is no benefit to your spouse when you confess. All the benefits are yours”, he said.

    Read Also: Teju Babyface welcomes third child with wife

    TejuBabyface also distinguished between confession to God and confession to a human partner, stating that the biblical principle of confession and forgiveness applies to one’s relationship with God, not necessarily with human partners.

    “People will even quote the Bible to support the idea of confession. They will say that if we confess and repent, then our sins are forgiven. Excuse me, that is to God and from God, not to man. It is confession to God, not to man. Do not do it”, he said.

    He encouraged individuals to consider the motivations behind their desire to confess and the potential consequences of their actions.

    “The first question you must ask yourself is this: what exactly are you trying to achieve with your confession? This is confessing that you want to go and do it. What is the objective? Ask yourself that question because people who confess manage to convince themselves that they are trying to come clean, that they are being honest”, he added.

  • Burna Boy tops Spotify’s global Afrobeats ranking for 2025

    Burna Boy tops Spotify’s global Afrobeats ranking for 2025

    Spotify has released its list of the most-streamed Afrobeats artists worldwide for 2025, with Burna Boy leading the chart.

    Rema secured second place, followed by Wizkid in third, Asake in fourth, and Ayra Starr in fifth—the only female artist on the list.

    Ayra Starr’s rise was boosted by the success of her hit track “Hot Body,” which drove her streaming numbers into the top five.

    Fans and music lovers have celebrated the ranking, hailing Burna Boy’s dominance while applauding Spotify for recognizing Afrobeats’ growing global influence, with Nigeria at the heart of the genre’s success.

  • Netizens react to Regina Daniels, Ned Nwoko viral ‘bathroom’ video

    Netizens react to Regina Daniels, Ned Nwoko viral ‘bathroom’ video

    Actress Regina Daniels caused a stir on social media on Monday with a video of herself and her husband, Senator Ned Nwoko, using the restroom.

    The viral video captured the look on Ned’s face as he seemingly showed his displeasure before going on to pee.

    Regina, who’s a mother of two, was seen quickly blocking the camera’s view as her husband appeared to be using the restroom.

    According to the timestamp on the video, the incident occurred around 5:30 am.

    READ ALSO: 2027: ex-President Jonathan just one of our options, says PDP

    The playful moment has since generated a flurry of comments from fans, with many praising Regina for her swift and protective gesture, while others found humor in the early morning recording.

    While some praised the actress for her protective gesture and sense of humor, others criticised the video as being inappropriate and disrespectful.

    One social media user commented: “He saw the video recording and still brought it out. I didn’t even see anything, so everyone should rest. If he had a problem with it, he would have asked her to delete it.”

    Another critic wrote:“So disrespectful.”

    A third user added: “It’s shameful! To showcase a serving senator this way is completely unacceptable.”

  • Father figures key to women’s childhood stability – Seyi Shay

    Father figures key to women’s childhood stability – Seyi Shay

    Singer Seyi Shay has revealed why the presence of a father in a girl child’s life is immeasurable.

    In an interview on Honest Bunch podcast, Seyi said having a father figure can significantly contribute to a child’s stability and access to better opportunities.

    She argued that father figures provide guidance, moral values, and set standards for relationships and friendships, which can positively impact a child’s development and future.

    Seyi Shay expressed concerns about the narrative that men are not important in the home, calling it an agenda that creates disparity and division within families.

    She opined that this can lead to more broken individuals and emphasises the value of having a father figure in a child’s life.

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    She said: “Most women that have a father figure are generally more stable growing up. They have a lot more access to a lot more things like good education, good moral values and there’s a bar when they want to get married or when they choose male friends and stuff like that.

    “All this agenda pushing of men are not important. You can do this. I think it’s bullshit because that’s just an agenda placed for there to be more disparity and more division in a home so that we can churn out more broken souls or more lost females and males”.

    The mother of one credits her life experiences and the timing of her motherhood for allowing her to be a better parent to her daughter.

    According to her, she sees herself as her daughter’s “cheat code,” able to provide guidance and share her experiences to help her daughter avoid some of the challenges she faced.

    “Look at me. I’m just so very lucky that I didn’t have a child when I was like 20 or 23 because my daughter would probably grow up to be a mess. Like, having her at this age means that I’m her cheat code.

    “It means that I’m able to, like, put her on to certain things and she can avoid certain routes that I took. Because I’ve done them. I’ve been through them. I can tell her all about guys, all about certain friends and how and why and be real and honest with her, and hopefully she will be 10 million times better than me without having to also go through the tribulations and trials that I’ve been through.

    “And there are a lot of women like that, you know, today. And there are young mothers as well that are entrepreneurs,,” she added.