Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Looking back at your time in the house, what’s one thing you wish you had done differently?

I wish I had explored more friendships. Friendships with Keivo, Araga and Gerald. Once they left the house, I had almost nobody apart from Bells. I wish I had tried more relationships.

What inspired the eviction look?

Naturally, I just like to try new things. I was bored of the look I was carrying in the house. I wanted to disrupt the normal day of my life. I wanted to look and feel different.

What is your biggest mental hurdle?

I wasn’t the best at arena games because they were new to me, unlike other housemates who had prior knowledge. I wasn’t the worst either, but I could have done better. Losing the games made me feel moody.

Can you share some of the misconceptions about yourself that you’d be correcting?

That I have a temper. I just had a few confrontations with Tram and Sultex, and that was me standing up for myself, but watching the highlights, I realised how that must have looked like I was an angry person. It was just an outburst. An outburst here or there shouldn’t define my image. The second narrative was always with Bells. Bells was part of the journey, but I was also friends with Araga, Keivo and Gerald. Keivo even brought out the weird side of me. I had my moments with Wager too.

What does fashion mean to you in general?

For me, fashion is a form of expression, how I think about myself and how I carry myself. It’s a compliment to who I am. So, most of my outfits are usually very intentional. My entrance outfit was unconventional because I intentionally wanted the world to see me in that way, like royalty or something of some sort. It also depicts my feelings; most times when I feel low, even in the house, I wear black but I don’t think people got to understand that part of my fashion reasoning. For me, fashion means self-expression in some type of way. I use fashion to express myself.

What is it about the house that you’d really miss?

I love how unpredictable it was. I cherished the unpredictability because it also gave hope to the people who had not won enough that maybe your day will come, so that feeling of hopefulness was one thing that carried a lot of people. It kept us going; it kept them going. I love how spontaneous it is. I love activities so much; that’s why I was very active during the wager. The house will stimulate you with so many activities going on at the same time. I loved how it was a mixture of several characters and personalities that were multi-layered. I observed so many people in the house, and it was beautiful watching people unravel themselves. I think that sums it all.

What sort of roles are you naturally drawn to, and which would you like to explore as you’re out of the house as an actor?

Naturally, I’m drawn to every type of role because I’m a curious person, and I’m also curious about myself. So, I want to experience everything and explore everything that comes with acting. I want to be versatile. I want to do drama, action, comedy, romance, thriller, and series. I want to go mainstream. I want to be actively involved in acting and master my craft. I want to perfect it, be the actor that people look forward to watching because of how good and expressive he is. I want to do so much in my acting career.

Now that you’re out, what’s next for Yusuf, and what should we expect from you after BBNaija?

I want to go back into acting and do more challenging roles. Accept more diverse roles. Do more interesting things in acting. I was an author, so I want to go back to writing books, scripts, etc. I also want to delve into public speaking and hosting, and expansion of my farm.

Nigerian filmmaker Dr Donald Oluchukwu Iheonunekwu’s film, ‘Osu,’ has emerged as the Best Indigenous film in Toronto, Canada.

The film won Best Indigenous Film at the Brampton International Nollywood Film Festival (BINFF) – part of the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) ecosystem.

For Iheonunekwu, the award is more than personal.

‘This award is dedicated to the Igbo language. We have to do more for our culture,’ he said.

Iheonunekwu has anchored his filmmaking on the belief that indigenous languages survive when they are lived and when stories are told through them.

Rather than blame the status quo, he chose cinema as his contribution to keeping Igbo visible and relevant – producing films substantially in Igbo and documentaries exploring Igbo history and civilisation.

His documentary ‘Journey to Igbo Civilisation’ won Best Documentary at the Abuja International Film Festival in 2022 and repeated the feat at VILLAFEST in 2023.

Another defining chapter came during his first visit to Kigali, Rwanda, where he encountered stereotypes about young Igbo men.

He turned the experience into ‘A Trip to Kigali,’ shot in Lagos and Kigali, which explores identity, perception and how Africans view each other. He served as actor, co-director and producer on the project.

The film won Best Narrative Feature at the 2026 TAFF International Film Festival in Dallas and also clinched a Best Actress award.

‘A film can do more than entertain; it can challenge stereotypes, preserve culture and reshape global perceptions,’ he noted.

His latest honour, ‘OSU,’ tackles one of the most difficult subjects in Igbo social history – the Osu caste system, which for generations subjected people and their descendants to discrimination and exclusion due to inherited status rooted in traditional religious practices.

A political support group backed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, BTO4PBAT27, has launched a grassroots mobilisation campaign across wards and polling units in Ondo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group’s Director-General, Mr Gideon Adojutelegan, said this on Saturday in an interview in Akure, adding that the group has commenced a ‘Unit-to-Unit Tour’ across the state’s 18 local government areas.

Adojutelegan revealed that the tour also aims to strengthen grassroots structures and mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

He said the initiative would involve direct engagement with residents, party members, community leaders, youths, women and other stakeholders.

The DG noted that the tour would focus on voter education, Permanent Voter Card (PVC) awareness, political reconciliation, community dialogue and strengthening its presence at ward and polling-unit levels.

Adojutelegan added that the initiative was designed to move beyond conventional political mobilisation by creating opportunities for the group to listen to the concerns and priorities of communities.

‘Effective political organisation must have its foundation among the people. Our objective is not simply to visit communities, but to listen, engage, build relationships and strengthen grassroots participation,’ he stated.

He said sustained engagement at the ward and polling-unit levels remained critical to building an effective political organisation and maintaining regular interaction with the electorate.

Adojutelegan added that the group’s activities would promote party unity and support for candidates duly nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 elections.

He lauded the Minister of Interior, Dr Tunji-Ojo, for his leadership, guidance and continued support for its political and grassroots activities.

According to him, the minister’s encouragement had helped strengthen its organisational structure and motivated members to expand their activities across the state.

‘We formally place on record our profound appreciation for his leadership, guidance, trust, encouragement and continued support.

‘We remain committed to conducting our activities with discipline, responsibility and respect for the people and institutions we engage,’ Adojutelegan stated.

He, however, said the Unit-to-Unit Tour would also strengthen coordination among its members and create sustained channels of engagement between its leadership and communities across Ondo State.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has extended its passport intervention exercise in the United Kingdom to October 30, 2026, following increased demand from Nigerians in the diaspora.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the exercise in response to concerns raised by Nigerians abroad over passport and other document applications.

NIS Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Akinsola Akinlabi, said the UK exercise, initially scheduled to end on October 6, had been extended to October 30.

‘Therefore, Nigerian communities in the UK are enjoined to take advantage of the extension to renew their passports,’ Akinlabi said in a statement issued in Abuja.

He urged applicants to utilise the designated venues, including 56-57 Fleet Street, Temple, London EC4Y 1JU; Nigerian House, 23 Platt Lane, Manchester M14 5NE; Hilton Convention Centre, 13 Smithfield Road, Aberdeen, AB24 4NR; and Cardiff.

Akinlabi said the venue for the Cardiff centre would be announced in a subsequent public notice, urging applicants to monitor the Nigeria High Commission’s website and NIS official communication channels for updates.

He said applicants must book appointments through the NIS-approved platform or the Nigeria High Commission’s website and adhere strictly to their scheduled dates and times.

The arrangement, he said, was designed to ensure an orderly process, minimise delays and enable the Service to attend to applicants efficiently throughout the exercise.

Akinlabi also said the Contactless Passport Application System remained operational, encouraging eligible Nigerians to use the platform to renew their passports without visiting a Nigerian embassy, high commission or consulate.

He urged Nigerians to contact: email:passport.london@immigration.gov.ng. WhatsApp only: +234 916 087 8000 for assistance.

According to Akinlabi, applicants must present documents such as a completed application form, payment slips as proof of payment, and the intervention appointment printout.

Self-addressed return envelope; and for renewal cases, mandatory presentation of the applicant’s current passport.

Akinlabi warned applicants that cash payments would not be accepted at the venue, and that they must cooperate with officials to ensure a smooth and orderly exercise.

‘The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to efficient, transparent and responsive passport Service Delivery to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora,’ he said.

Actress Jumoke Odetola has announced that she has answered God’s call to become a minister.

Odetola, known for her roles in Yoruba films, disclosed this in a post on her Instagram page on Saturday.

The actress said she made the announcement after concerns from fans, colleagues and family members about her recent social media posts.

According to her, she has been inundated with calls and messages asking about her well-being.

She wrote, ‘Jumoke, your recent posts… Are you okay? Is everything alright? I truly appreciate the numerous calls, messages and concerns of my friends, family, colleagues. Thank you so much. I feel seen, cared for and loved. Yes, something is going on in my life… but nothing is wrong with me.’

Odetola explained that she is entering a new season focused on her faith and ministry.

‘I am entering a new season with God. I am now a minister of God. I am now a preacher of the gospel. Yes! You heard right! A minister,’ she stated.

The award-winning actress said she had considered keeping the journey private but chose to speak up to avoid speculation.

‘I have been contemplating whether I should be private about it, but how can I be private about preaching the gospel when you could just see me on your street with my bell preaching the gospel? Let me bring myself out before anyone records me and brings me out,’ she said.

She added, ‘I need all the prayers in this new season. I need all the prayers in this season. When God compels you, you may delay, but you cannot escape the call.’

As political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections, children of several prominent Nigerian politicians are featuring among those seeking seats in the National Assembly.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027.

An infographic published by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting in September 2026, based on data from INEC, identified several children of former presidents, a former vice-president, former governors and a former Senate President among those contesting or linked to National Assembly races across the country.

Some of those identified are already serving in the National Assembly, while others are seeking to enter the legislature in 2027:

1. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan – Kogi

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, daughter of the late Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, a former member of the House of Representatives, is the incumbent senator representing Kogi Central.

She is seeking the Kogi Central senatorial seat in the 2027 election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

2. Iyabo Obasanjo – Ogun

Iyabo Obasanjo is the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

She is seeking the Ogun Central senatorial seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

3. Yusuf M. Buhari – Katsina

Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, is linked to the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency race in Katsina State.

4. Bello M. El-Rufai – Kaduna

Bello El-Rufai is the son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

He represents the Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and is among those identified in the 2027 National Assembly contests.

5. Chinedum E. Orji – Abia

Chinedum Orji, son of former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, is seeking the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

6. Adamu A. Atiku – Adamawa

Adamu Atiku is the son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

He is among those linked to the 2027 National Assembly race in Adamawa State.

7. Blessing O. Onuh – Benue

Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President David Mark, represents the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

She is seeking another term in the 2027 election.

8. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu – Delta

Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu is the daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

She represents the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and is involved in the 2027 race.

9. Gabriella (Omosede) Igbinedion – Edo

Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion, daughter of businessman and politician Gabriel Igbinedion, is associated with the Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency in Edo State.

She has emerged as a candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives race.

10. Olumide Osoba – Ogun

Olumide Osoba, son of former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, represents the Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

He is among the children of prominent political figures featuring in the 2027 National Assembly contests.

11. Adegboyega Adefarati – Ondo

Adegboyega Adefarati, son of the late former Ondo State Governor Adebayo Adefarati, represents the Akoko South-East/Akoko South-West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

He is seeking another term in the 2027 election.

12. Olamiju Alao-Akala – Oyo

Olamiju Alao-Akala, son of the late former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, is linked to the Orire/Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South Federal Constituency race in Oyo State.

His participation adds another child of a former governor to the list of politicians featuring in the 2027 National Assembly contests.

Six people have been killed and several others injured in an attack on Tashan-Rimi, near Godoro in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident, which occurred around 1a.m. on Wednesday, formed part of continuing clashes between Fulani and Kamuku groups in the area, according to local sources.

The village head, Alhaji Garba Mohammed Bissalla, confirmed that Fulani herders attacked residents including Musa Bahago and his son Hamisu Musa, adding that the violence claimed six lives.

Bissalla linked the incident to earlier disputes that have already left many families bereaved, expressing concern that previous efforts by state, local government and traditional authorities had failed to stop the bloodshed.

He added that while Kamuku leaders had urged peaceful coexistence in line with calls from the state governor, attacks and livestock theft had continued.

The Niger State Police later confirmed that suspected armed men invaded Godoro and Angwan-Bisala communities under Katako District at about 1:30 a.m. the same day.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, a report received from Kagara stated that four people lost their lives and two others sustained serious injuries, adding that officers had visited the scene, taking the injured to hospital.

He also stated that investigation was ongoing.

General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), Pastor William Kumuyi, has said he is in the Republic of Benin to deliver what he described as a divine message of power capable of bringing solutions to the problems confronting the people.

Kumuyi spoke ahead of the commencement of the five-day Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCK), which begins today at Sékou, in the Allada commune of the Republic of Benin.

The crusade, which runs from September 25 to 29, is themed ‘Divine Visitation from the God of All Possibilities.’

Speaking at a press conference in Cotonou on Wednesday, Kumuyi said: ‘Dear brothers and sisters, I am with you and for you. This crusade is for the entire Beninese nation.’he told the people, assuring them that the programme was for the entire nation.

Kumuyi said he believed God had prepared him for the assignment and that the crusade would witness a fresh manifestation of divine power.

‘The fire of God will be rekindled. God has prepared wonderful things. The power of God will move. Heaven is more than ready for you. God has prepared me and I am ready,’ he said.

He particularly invited people facing difficult circumstances, including the sick and those seeking solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

According to him, he was bringing a message from God that would address the needs of participants physically, spiritually and otherwise.

‘God has given me a message of power from heaven to solve the problems of all the participants who will come to this revival,’ Kumuyi said.

He added: ‘There will be a bulldozer power that will break all the mountains.’

The cleric said the expected impact would not be restricted to those physically present at Sékou, stressing that those participating through the live broadcast would also be part of the programme.

Kumuyi’s return to Benin Republic comes about 12 years after his previous crusade in the country.

He acknowledged the passage of time, saying he had become more mature in the intervening years.

‘In twelve years, I have matured more,’ he said, expressing confidence that the current crusade would produce greater impact.

The GCK will hold every evening at the National Deeper Life Bible Church Camp in Sékou, Allada, with the programme scheduled to begin at 5pm.

The crusade is expected to draw participants from Benin Republic and neighbouring countries, while the proceedings will also be transmitted globally through the GCK and DCLM digital platforms.

Kumuyi also disclosed that the Benin programme would extend beyond the evening crusade.

An Impact Academy for youths is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou. It will focus on helping young people discover the key to success.

The All Believers’ Conference will hold on September 28 and 29, also in Cotonou, with ministers and Christian leaders expected to participate.

For Kumuyi, the Benin assignment is therefore both an evangelistic and transformational mission.

‘Let us all be there and see God in action,’ he urged the people of Benin.

The GCK convener has in recent years taken the crusade to several countries and Nigerian states, with the outreach combining evangelism with programmes targeted at youths, ministers and professionals.

As the Benin edition opens today, Kumuyi’s central message remains that of divine intervention, salvation, healing, deliverance and transformation – with the preacher urging participants to come expecting what he described as ‘the God of all possibilities’ to act in their lives.

Nigerian-Born, Montreal-based artist, Prince Oluwasegun Ajayi, has returned to the music scene with his latest single, ‘Waka Waka’.

The energetic track, which comes with a distinctive dance style, is currently gaining attention on social media and streaming platforms.

On the inspiration behind the song, Ajayi said ‘Waka Waka’ was recorded with the idea of movement and exposure.

‘Movement has followed me throughout my life, moving through Lagos, moving through dance, moving between countries, moving between creative disciplines and constantly refusing to remain in one box,’ he said.

According to him, he wanted ‘Waka Waka’ to be a record that could connect with audiences in different settings.

‘I want people to enjoy it. Not every record needs a lecture attached to it. Sometimes music should make you move before it makes you think.’

Looking ahead, Ajayi said his ambition extends beyond building a conventional music career. He wants to develop a wider creative ecosystem around his brand.

‘I don’t want to build only an artiste brand. I want to build an ecosystem,’ he said.

Adding that, ‘The most interesting part of the story won’t just be how far I went. It will be how many people, ideas and opportunities were able to move with me.’

Prince Ajayi is a recording artiste, filmmaker, director, dancer and entrepreneur. As a founder of 361Studios, he blends African rhythm, movement, multilingual expression and cinematic storytelling to create music with global appeal.

Ghanaian film Bed of Thorns has secured a streaming deal with Homi TV, expanding the film’s reach to a wider audience.

The deal follows the film’s recognition at the San Francisco Film Festival, where it became the first Ghanaian film to win an award at the festival.

The production also received recognition at the Abia International Film Festival.

Bed of Thorns was written and directed by Kenny Dee and produced under Sir Nelson Productions.

The film is a romantic drama that combines suspense, emotional conflict and unexpected twists.

It features Nelson Emmanuel, Haillie Sumney, Kofi Adjololo and Sylvia Davis in leading roles.

Sumney, popularly known as ‘Ghana Goddess,’ is a Canadian-born, California-raised Ghanaian actress, television personality, brand influencer, philanthropist and entrepreneur.

She has appeared in productions including Heels and Sneakers, Real Lagos Fake Life, A Way Back Home, Blood Vessel on Netflix and Kintampo on African Magic.

Sumney has also worked across Nollywood, Ghallywood and Hollywood and served as a red-carpet host at the 2018 BET Awards.

The Homi TV agreement marks another stage in the film’s distribution journey, making it available to a broader streaming audience.

Bed of Thorns began streaming on Homi TV on September 18, 2026.