The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • Seun Bankole weds heathrob in style

    Seun Bankole weds heathrob in style

    Few months after news of their engagement broke, live music star, Oluwaseun Bankole aka SBLive and his heartthrob, Oluwatomisin Oyewole are officially married, following a fairytale wedding in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    The fame-packed two-day of festivities —Wednesday December 10 and Thursday December 11— began like an ordinary day and not synonymous with an elaborate bash. The day saw the capital city of Oyo State hosting a grand soiree as close family members and friends of both Seun and Oluwatomisin gathered at the Jogor Centre in Ring Road, Ibadan for their lavish traditional engagement ceremony.

    The following day, Thursday, was the main day for the nuptials —the white wedding and the reception. On this day, the live music maestro, popularly known as SBLive and his elegant sweetheart exchanged their vows and officially tied the knot at a spectacular intimate white wedding ceremony witnessed by very select family members and friends. It was followed by a lavish reception held at the prestigious Sunlight Royal Event Centre, a venue notable as Ibadan’s only 5-Star event haven. Indeed, the vehicular traffic and quality of personalities who stormed Ibadan for the reception attested to the growing influence of SBLive within the entertainment and society party scene.

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    Surrounded by co-stars as groomsmen —including Isegun Johnson, Bidemi Olaoba, Dele Omo Woli, MC Vikky, MC Ajele, and Eyitayo Adebamowo— the nuptials was a beautiful and emotional celebration as the couple rocked several timeless looks for a timeless union both in traditional and contemporary attires.

    Tomisin, the bride, dressed in a classic white gown —while her groom sported a white tuxedo jacket and black pants— couldn’t stop beaming on a day filled with fun, love and laughter. She planted a big kiss on her man’s lips as he delivered a heartfelt speech after the nuptials. And their nearest and dearest gathered round to watch them share their first dance as husband and wife.

  • Bisi Alawiye to raise prayer for Nigeria at prophetic praise programme

    Bisi Alawiye to raise prayer for Nigeria at prophetic praise programme

    Gospel Minister, Bisi Alawiye Aluko has announced that special prayers and praise will be raised for Nigeria during her Prophetic Praise Program coming up later this month.

    Mrs Aluko, who made this known in a statement, used the story of the children of Israel entering Jericho as an example.

    Other ministers expected at the event include Evang. Elijah Akintunde aka olorun o so bi, Prophetess Jumoke Olakanmi, Prophetess Apeke Daramola, Prophetess Dr. Abosede Mayowa and Prophetess Kemi Osho.

    The Gospel artiste had earlier announced Sunday, December 21, 2025 as the date for her annual Prophetic Praise Program at BTO Events Hall, Along Ilesa Garage, Akure, Ondo State.

    She also noted that she believes that after the praises and prayers the insecurity and other challenges facing the country will become solved.

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    She encouraged many persons to attend the program to not only pray for Nigeria but also receive their own testimonies.

    According to her, previous editions of the program have seen people live with testimonies of healing, breakthrough, divine visitation and many more and she believes this edition will not be an exemption.

    This programme is all about acknowledging the goodness of God in my life for His mercy and divine grace upon her life. He has always moved mightily at different editions and believes this year will not be different by his grace”, she added.

  • Morayo Afolabi-Brown launches new talk show

    Morayo Afolabi-Brown launches new talk show

    Media personality Morayo Afolabi-Brown has announces the launch of The Morayo Show, a daily live audience talk show created to engage national audiences, drive meaningful conversations, and explore the social, cultural, and emotional issues shaping Nigerian life. The show is produced from a state-of-the-art studio on the Lagos Mainland, the first of its kind on the Mainland, setting a new standard for excellence, accessibility, and innovation in Lagos media.

    Airing every weekday on News Central TV, NTA Lagos and TVC Entertainment, TMS will also be available across digital platforms, ensuring broad access for audiences nationwide. The show is designed for viewers who are curious, socially conscious, and eager for content that is insightful, thought-provoking, and inspiring.

    With a distinguished career spanning over 12 years in broadcast media, Morayo Afolabi-Brown brings extensive experience in journalism, storytelling, and cultural analysis to the show. Her expertise in unpacking complex issues and connecting with diverse audiences informs the show’s approach, ensuring conversations are both authoritative and relatable. “The Morayo Show is designed as an interactive, live platform where real people are participants, not spectators,” said Morayo Afolabi-Brown.

    “Our goal is to foster conversations that are inclusive, human, and impactful – conversations that reflect the realities, questions, and aspirations of Nigerians.” The talk show is designed to address complex social, cultural, and emotional issues with thoughtfulness and authority. Rooted in a commitment to progress, the show goes beyond highlighting challenges to spotlight potential, encouraging audiences to see themselves as active participants in shaping a better future.

    Commenting on the partnership, the Editor in Chief/Managing Director of News Central Television, Mr. Kayode Akintemi said; “This partnership with MAB Productions reflects our commitment to building a future-ready media organisation anchored on quality journalism, strong partnerships, and sustainable growth. The Morayo Show aligns firmly with our vision to put our fingers on the pulse of the nation by creating credible platforms where diverse and often silenced voices can thrive.”

    As a purpose-led platform, The Morayo Show delivers measurable social and brand value while engaging a trusted national audience. With expertise, credibility, and a clear vision, The show is positioned to influence culture, foster dialogue, and become a defining presence in Nigeria’s media landscape.

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    The Director of Programmes, TVC Entertainment & New Media, Olukunle Folarin also expressed the organisation’s support for the initiative. In his words, “We are incredibly proud to support Morayo Afolabi-Brown as she embarks on this exciting new journey with The Morayo Show. The Morayo Show is a natural progression for her, and we are excited to officially partner with her in this next phase. At TVC, we are committed to fostering inclusive dialogue and supporting innovative projects that inspire positive change, and we’re thrilled to be part of this one”.

    The Lagos Mainland based studio is designed not only for the show’s production but also as a versatile, multi-purpose creative space. It is available for movie premieres, watch parties, interviews, podcasts, and professional recordings, providing creators, brands, and organizations with a world-class environment to bring their ideas to life. In an industry where premium facilities are often concentrated elsewhere, this first-of-its-kind studio underscores that excellence and innovation can thrive on the Mainland. The Morayo Show premieres live on January 5th, 2026, and subsequent promos with more details will run across all partner stations.

  • ON Awards 2025: Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors, Farmer’s Bride win big

    ON Awards 2025: Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors, Farmer’s Bride win big

    By Tosin Brown

    Femi Adebayo’s hit series, ‘Seven Doors,’ and Adebayo Tijani’s ‘Farmer’s Bride’ were the biggest winners on Sunday night, December 14, 2025 when the 17th edition of the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, held at the Wole Soyinka centre for Arts and Culture, Lagos.

    At the event, Nollywood’s finest were celebrated and the year’s top talents were crowned.

    While the drama ‘Farmers Bride’ claimed the night’s top honors, the movie ‘Seven Doors’ emerged as the most prolific winner, sweeping four major technical categories.

    The most prestigious movie awards of the night went to ‘Farmers Bride’ in the Movie of the Year and Director of the Year categories.

    ‘Seven Doors,’ Femi Adebayo’s technical masterpiece proved to be the night’s biggest single film winner, taking home four highly coveted awards, including: Best Production Design, Best Special Effect, Best Series, and Best Cinematography.

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    The film’s performance highlights the growing recognition of high-quality production and technical excellence in Nigerian cinema.

    Beyond the top prizes, the awards celebrated diverse aspects of filmmaking.

    The lead acting awards saw a clean sweep for the film ‘Black Out,’ with Gideon Okeke and Padita Agu taking home the Best Actor and Best Actress statuettes, respectively.

    In the supporting roles, veteran actress Mercy Aigbe was recognised for her role in ‘My Mother Is a Witch,’ while Taye Ayimoro won for ‘Son of the Soil.’

    The memorable screen chemistry between Tobi Bakre and Folu Storms in ‘Red Cycle’ earned them the award for Best Kiss.

    ‘Abanisete’ secured the Best Indigenous award, underscoring the importance of cultural storytelling. The promising future of Nollywood was also highlighted with wins for Razaaq Adoti (Most Promising Actor for Son of the Soil) and Una Idoko (Most Promising Actress for I Am Anis).

    The 17th BON Awards also dished out special recognition awards for the deserving trio of Steve Ayorinde, Funke Akindele, and Dr Shaibu Husseini.

  • GOtv Boxing Night: Mavo joins jams festival showday performance line-up

    GOtv Boxing Night: Mavo joins jams festival showday performance line-up

    GOtv Boxing Night Jams Festival has added fast-rising Afrobeats star Mavo to its live performance line-up, joining Afro-fusion act Showday at the event scheduled for December 26, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

    The festival, which uniquely fuses live music with professional boxing, has grown into a fixture on Lagos’ December entertainment calendar, drawing fans of both sport and sound to one arena. This year’s edition will feature six professional boxing bouts alongside musical performances.

    Mavo has enjoyed a strong run over the past year, breaking through with his energetic, slang-heavy style and crowd-ready records such as ‘Escapade,’ ‘Shaye’ and ‘Feelings.’ His momentum has been fuelled by charting singles, growing international attention and collaborations that have helped position him as one of Afrobeats’ most exciting new voices.

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    Showday has carved out his own lane as a reliable live performer, earning acclaim for his smooth Afro-fusion sound and relatable songwriting. Songs like Overdose, Better Days and Tonight, as well as collaborations with established Nigerian artistes, have made him a familiar presence on major stages and festivals.

    With both artistes confirmed, organisers say the GOtv Boxing Night Jams Festival promises a rich mix of sporting and musical entertainment, reinforcing its reputation as one of the festive season’s most anticipated entertainment events. The event is sponsored by GOtv, with support from MultiChoice, SuperSport, Renmoney, TheCable, Zetaweb and Lagos State Sports Commission.

  • Coal City Film Festival hosts 3rd edition of Homecoming Conversations

    Coal City Film Festival hosts 3rd edition of Homecoming Conversations

    The Coal City Film Festival (CCFF) has successfully hosted the 3rd edition of its flagship thought-leadership platform, ‘Homecoming Conversations,’ in Enugu, as part of activities leading to the 6th edition of the Coal City Film Festival scheduled for March 2026.

    This year’s ‘Homecoming Conversations’ focused on the theme Nollywood and Security: Using Creative Industry Solutions to Tackle Local Insecurity, bringing together stakeholders from the creative industry, security agencies, government institutions, and the media to examine how film and storytelling can contribute meaningfully to national security discourse and community stability.

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    The session featured high-level contributions from distinguished speakers, including Chief Dr. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, renowned Nollywood filmmaker and cultural icon, and CC Elijah Etim Willie, Ph.D., State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Both speakers emphasized the power of cinema as a tool for social orientation, behavioural change, and community engagement, while also highlighting the importance of collaboration between creative professionals and security institutions.

  • Ministry Of Education Upgrades Pefti

    Ministry Of Education Upgrades Pefti

    The Federal Ministry of Education, through the National Board for Technical Education (N.B.T.E.), has upgraded PEFTI with five new National Diploma (ND) programs, shortly after the institute was recently crowned “Best Innovation Enterprise Institution in Nigeria”, for both the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions, at the prestigious National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M).

    PEFTI has been accredited to offer National Diplomas in Business Administration and Management, Fashion Design & Clothing Technology, Mass Communication, Multimedia Technology, and Music Technology.

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    According to PEFTI Registrar, Abiola Adenuga, “PEFTI has for 21 years, remained committed to educating and empowering youths across Nigeria and beyond. This upgrade is a testimony to PEFTI’s dedication to quality education, industry-relevant training, and global-standard facilities. It opens even bigger doors for young people to build careers, create opportunities, and shape the future of entrepreneurial and creative industries.”

  • WOMA 2025 Round table interrogates media power as awards ceremony beckons

    WOMA 2025 Round table interrogates media power as awards ceremony beckons

    The 2025 edition of the Wale Olomu Memorial Awards and Roundtable (WOMA-R) opened its two-weekend programme on Saturday, 13 December, with a candid and reflective discussion on “The Impact of Entertainment Reporting on Musical Careers: Our View.” Broadcast live on TopRadio 90.9 FM, the Roundtable convened artistes, journalists and media executives to examine how reporting, perception and narrative-building continue to shape careers within Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

    Moderated by media veterans and WOMA Steering Committee members, Tokunbo Ojekunle and Femi Akintunde-Johnson, the conversation revealed rare alignment across the media- artiste divide. Multi-award-winning singer and media executive Wunmi Obe drew on her experience on both sides of the fence, observing that “he that controls the media, controls the mind,” while stressing that entertainers often play a role in granting that power. “The media can make or mar an entertainer, but the entertainer can also give the media the right to do so.

    Collaboration is key,” she said.

    Afro-soul singer Kayefi Osha echoed the sentiment, warning that credibility once lost is difficult to recover. “The media can make or mar one’s career for life,” she noted, adding that silence can be costly: “If you do not tell your story, others will tell it for you – and it may not be accurate.”

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    Speaking from the perspective of a globally recognised performer, Aralola Olamuyiwa (Ara) highlighted the heightened vulnerability of creatives in the digital age. “It is so easy for one’s career to go down in this digital era. How you are reported determines how your career goes,” she said, dismissing gender bias as secondary to artistic substance. “Gender does not impact perception; artistry does.”

    Broadcaster and digital media specialist Jimi Akinniyi pointed to the tension between reportage and reputation, noting that “artistes want to control the narratives about themselves,” even as journalists grapple with public expectations and industry pressures. Cultural writer and strategist Jide Taiwo, and media owner, Olumide Iyanda reaffirmed the journalist’s obligation to fairness, regardless of personal relationships or industry pressures. Taiwo stated: “As journalists, it is our duty to cover fairly – not based on friendship, but on responsibility.”

    The discussion also touched on interview preparedness, media literacy and lifestyle choices, with the consensus that misinformation, sensationalism and poorly managed narratives remain among the biggest threats to artistic longevity. Together, the exchanges reinforced the enduring relevance of entertainment journalism as both a career catalyst and a cultural custodian.

    The Round Table set an introspective tone for WOMA 2025, themed “Unsung Legends Who Shaped Today’s Glory.” Attention now turns to Saturday, 20 December, when the Wale Olomu Memorial Awards ceremony will honour three Lifetime Achievement recipients and five Special Recognition awardees for their lasting contributions to Nigeria’s entertainment industry. The ceremony will also air live on TopRadio 90.9 FM, continuing WOMA’s mission of preserving legacy, recognising excellence, and amplifying the often-uncelebrated architects of Nigeria’s cultural evolution.

  • Beautiful Nubia raises the alarm over deforestation

    Beautiful Nubia raises the alarm over deforestation

    Veteran folk-lore musician, Beautiful Nubia, has spoken out against the growing destruction of trees and green spaces in Nigeria, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to human survival.

    The singer made the remarks during a recent performance, where he expressed concern over what he described as a national hostility towards nature, citing his experience on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    “I drove on the Lagos Ibadan expressway today, they are cutting down the trees. When a Nigerian buys, they cut, they hate trees. Nigerians have a war against trees, we have a war against nature. I don’t know why,” he said.

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    Beautiful Nubia questioned the logic behind widespread deforestation, especially the practice of clearing land completely before development, replacing natural vegetation with concrete.

    “Something is really wrong with our brains that we hate green, we have trees, we hate seeing grass. When Nigerians buy land they cut the trees and cement the whole floor. What is wrong with you and the tree?” he asked.

    The musician warned that the consequences of such actions could be dire, stressing the importance of trees to human existence and environmental balance.

    “And without the trees we would all be dead and we are getting there,” he added.

  • Day Salawa Abeni, Shaggy, others light up Ofada Rice Day

    Day Salawa Abeni, Shaggy, others light up Ofada Rice Day

    This year’s edition of the just concluded Ofada Rice Day, to say the least, was fun-filled and whose fond memory linger still.

    One feature of the funfest was the fact that it was headlined by musical legends and other acts to mark the 7th edition of the largest indigenous food festival, tagged ‘Eko Dun Joor.’

    Salawa Abeni, Segun Johnson, Broda Shaggy and a host of other leading Nigerian artistes really enliven the event.

    The event, which was held at the Muri Okunola park, Victoria island Lagos had over 8,000 attendees.

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    The festival, which showcased the richness of Nigerian culture, food, and entertainment, was a convergence of leading brands, including Pocketmoni which was the headline sponsor, Goldberg, Maltina, Fatgbems Group, Betnaija, Action Bitters and other partners such as Golden Penny, MTN, Pepsi, Arthill Studio and others created back-to-back engagement with the various strata of audience.

    Dignitaries from the Canadian Deputy High Commission, Federal and Lagos State Government top officials, leading kings in Southwest graced the event. Ofada Rice Day  also featured electrifying performances by top Nigerian artistes, including Haruna Ishola, Reminisce, Dotun, Mide, Awesome band, Elijah, SquardOne, Alex Osho, Lolo, Hyenana, Gbenga Adeyinka, among others.

    Speaking at the festival, Tobi Fletcher, Creative Director of Ofadaboy, and Oyinda Fletcher, Chief Operating Officer, expressed their gratitude to attendees and partners.

    “This milestone is a testament to our passion for promoting Nigerian cuisine and culture. We are excited about the future and look forward to continuing this journey,” said Tobi Fletcher.