Official social media announcement graphic welcoming Nigerian international Stanley Nwabali back to the Chilli Boys. Photo Credit: Chippa United/Instagram

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is officially heading back to South Africa. In a sensational turn of events, Chippa United have welcomed the beloved Nigerian shot-stopper back to the club ahead of the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.

The Port Elizabeth-based side confirmed his return on Sunday, 12 July 2026, expressing their excitement at having him back in the Eastern Cape after five months away from competitive football.

In a statement posted on their official X account, Chippa United shared:

Chippa United Football Club is delighted to welcome Stanley Nwabali back to the Chilli Boys. After taking time away, Stanley Nwabali returns to the Eastern Cape, and we are pleased to welcome him back to the club. His experience, leadership and presence will once again be a valuable addition to the squad as we continue preparations for the season ahead.

Welcome back, Stanley. We wish you every success in Chippa United colours.

Nwabali first joined the Chilli Boys from Nigeria’s Katsina United in 2022. He quickly rose to continental prominence during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, where his penalty-shootout heroics helped guide the Super Eagles to the final. He followed that up with another brilliant tournament run, helping Nigeria secure a third-place finish at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

Super Eagles shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali celebrating a victory with Chippa United teammates in the South African top flight. Photo Credit: Stanley Nwabali/Instagram

However, in February 2026, Nwabali requested his release in pursuit of a new challenge abroad, resulting in a mutual parting of ways with Chippa United. Despite intense transfer speculation, a move failed to materialise. Spending the last five months without active club football subsequently cost him his regular starting shirt in the national team.

With the new season around the corner, Nwabali is already back in training under Chippa’s head coach, Brandon Truter.Rejoining a familiar and highly supportive setup is the perfect opportunity for the 30-year-old goalkeeper to revive his club career and reclaim his number-one spot for Nigeria.

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For many Nigerians, travelling abroad comes with an uncomfortable reality: the simple pleasures they enjoy at home suddenly become significantly more expensive. From meals to social outings, exchange rates can quickly turn everyday moments into costly decisions.

When even enjoying a chilled Heineken requires a quick currency conversion in your head, travel can start to feel less freeing. Now, Heineken is bringing Bar De Change to Nigeria, a social currency exchange that has already proven its worth in South Africa, and is now giving Nigerian travellers a way to enjoy more of the moments that matter abroad

Here are five things you should know about this passport to borderless social experiences:

What is Bar de Change and how does it work?

Bar De Change is an innovative social exchange activation that allows Nigerian travellers to buy Heineken at Nigerian prices before flying to the United States or Mexico and redeem those beers at participating bars in their destinations. Think of it as a Bureau De Change, but for beer – specifically, Heineken.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), travellers can visit Sapphire Lounge to purchase their Heineken before departure, and receive digital vouchers in return.

Upon arrival in the US or Mexico, these vouchers can be redeemed for Heineken at the participating bars, allowing travellers to enjoy the same great beer at the same price they paid back home.

How do I purchase, receive, and redeem my Bar de Change vouchers?

Before your flight, visit the Heineken bar at the Sapphire Lounge at MMIA and purchase 2, 4 or 6 Heinekens. Register at bardechange.app, and receive your digital Bar De Change voucher along with the locations of participating bars. Please note that your voucher is valid until July 19th, 2026. Make sure to redeem before that date.

When you arrive in the US or Mexico, visit the participating Heineken bar, present your voucher, and redeem it for a Heineken at the same price you paid in Nigeria.

Who is eligible to participate?

Participation is open to people who are 21 years and above departing from Nigeria to the US or Mexico. To participate, travellers must visit the Sapphire Lounge at MMIA before they fly. 

Where can I redeem my Bar de Change voucher?

Bar De Change vouchers can be redeemed for Heineken at participating bars across selected locations in the United States and Mexico. Simply present your voucher at any of the participating venues, follow the redemption process, and enjoy your Heineken and the moments that come with it.

Sponsored Content

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Multi-award-winning recording artist Darey Art Alade and music executive Sasha P, who have both joined the Recording Academy’s 2026 New Member Class.

Some incredible news to kick off the week: Nigerian music powerhouse figures Darey Art Alade, Sasha P, and Danny Young have all been invited to join the Recording Academy’s 2026 New Member Class. They officially become part of the prestigious global community of artists, producers, songwriters, and executives behind the GRAMMY Awards, directly helping to influence and shape the future of the recording industry.

This landmark cross-industry selection marks a spectacular milestone for the West African contingent, with each creative bringing decades of distinct leadership to the international table. By taking their seats, they bring invaluable African perspectives to crucial international conversations that dictate where global music goes next.

Reflecting on this major recognition, multi-award-winning recording artist and Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer at Livespot360, Darey Art Alade, described the appointment as a continuation of a journey deeply shaped by music, culture, and purpose.

From making music in the studio to building platforms that celebrate African creativity, I’ve always believed music has the power to move people, shape culture, and connect the world.

Established to bring together visionary creators whose work contributes to the advancement of music through artistic excellence, advocacy, and leadership, the Recording Academy’s New Member Class powers initiatives that support creators and strengthen the entire global ecosystem. For Darey, it is the perfect space to amplify the brilliant narratives coming out of Nigeria and the wider continent.

I’m proud to lend my voice to a community committed to celebrating excellence, supporting creators, and helping shape the future of our industry.

Official promotional graphic announcing Afrobeats artist, producer, and songwriter Danny Young as an invited member of the Recording Academy’s 2026 New Member Class. Photo Credit: Danny Young/Instagram 

Joining him in this phenomenal 2026 cohort are fellow trailblazers who have spent over twenty years defining the landscape of contemporary Nigerian music. This includes veteran Afrobeats artist, songwriter, and producer Danny Young, a pioneering figure from the early Afropop era. Sharing his excitement about the milestone, Danny noted:

I’m honoured and excited to announce that I have joined the Recording Academy’s 2026 New Member Class. After over two decades of creating, producing, and contributing to the growth of Afrobeats, this is a meaningful milestone in my journey. I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring my experience and voice to the global music community and contribute to the Grammy Awards process.

Official promotional graphic announcing pioneer rap star and Purple Entertainment CEO Sasha P as an invited member of the Recording Academy’s 2026 New Member Class. Photo Credit: Sasha P/Instagram

The cohort is further fortified by the inclusion of pioneer rap icon and entertainment executive Sasha P, the CEO of Purple Entertainment. Widely regarded as one of the architects of Nigerian hip-hop, Sasha P also shared her thoughts on the global invitation:

Honoured to join the Recording Academy’s 2026 New Member Class. Music has taken me into rooms, onto stages, and into conversations I never imagined. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a global community committed to serving creators and shaping the future of our industry. Looking forward to what’s ahead.

The presence of these three titans in the 2026 class underscores the undeniable and growing influence of African professionals within international music governance. For Darey and his peers, carrying this torch comes with a deep sense of responsibility and a celebration of community. “Here’s to representing Nigeria, Africa, and every creative who believes their story deserves to be heard,” he says.

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A workwear inspiration feature highlighting corporate fashion ideas from Adekunle Gold’s Toronto concert look, Rita Dominic’s birthday photoshoot, and Akin Faminu’s Paris Fashion Week 2026 appearance.

Monday mornings have a way of making us reach for the same blazer, the same trousers, and the same shirt on repeat. If your work wardrobe has started feeling a little predictable, these three celebrity looks might be all the inspiration you need before your next office day. They each approach tailoring differently, but they all prove that a few thoughtful styling choices can make corporate dressing feel fresh again.

Akin Faminu took tailoring in a new direction at Paris Fashion Week 2026 in a custom look by OJ Clothing. He wore a cropped black blazer with strong peaked lapels, layered over an asymmetric kilt-inspired panel and wide-leg tailored trousers. You may not be wearing a kilt to the office any time soon, but there is plenty to borrow here. A cropped blazer instantly changes the proportions of a traditional suit, while fuller trousers give classic tailoring a more contemporary feel. Even introducing just one of those ideas into your wardrobe can make familiar workwear feel new again.

Style influencer Akin Faminu wearing an avant-garde black tailored suit with pink floral stem accents and a black satin pussy-bow necktie in Paris. Photo Credit: Akin Faminu/Instagram

Then there is Rita Dominic, reminding us that office dressing does not have to begin and end with black, navy, or grey. For her birthday, she stepped out in a vibrant yellow pantsuit by Medlin Couture, complete with a double-breasted blazer, wide-leg trousers, satin gloves, and a sweeping faux-fur coat. While the gloves and coat are better suited to a photoshoot than a Monday meeting, the suit itself is a brilliant reminder that colour belongs in a professional wardrobe too. A well-cut tailored suit in one bold shade can do plenty of the talking without feeling overdone.

Actress Rita Dominic in a vibrant yellow tailored pantsuit decorated with a swirling layout of linear beadwork down the torso for her birthday photoshoot. Photo Credit: Rita Dominic/Instagram

If your style leans more towards timeless classics, Adekunle Gold offers another idea worth saving. For his Live with Orchestra show in Toronto earlier this month, he wore a long double-breasted tuxedo overcoat over a white dress shirt and wide black silk tie. It is proof that sometimes the difference is not about buying a completely new wardrobe, but investing in one beautifully tailored coat. Worn over your usual office clothes, it brings a little more polish to the morning commute, client meetings, or presentations without changing everything else underneath.

Adekunle Gold at his Live with Orchestra concert in Toronto in a black double-breasted tuxedo overcoat with crystal ombre embellishments. Photo Credit: Adekunle Gold/Instagram

Whether you are drawn to Akin Faminu’s fresh proportions, Rita Dominic’s confident use of colour, or Adekunle Gold’s timeless tailoring, there is something here for every corporate wardrobe. Sometimes all it takes is one new idea to make Monday mornings a little more enjoyable—and getting dressed becomes the easiest part of the day.

The post Need Fresh Workwear Ideas? Start With These 3 Celebrity Looks appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

A studio fashion photograph of Rita Dominic wearing crystal-rimmed cat-eye sunglasses, a custom beaded yellow pantsuit, and holding an oversized textured yellow coat.

Oh yellow, yellow, yellow! We are repeating “yellow” simply because Rita Dominic has just made the colour even more beautiful.

The Nollywood icon celebrated her birthday yesterday, marking the occasion with a birthday photoshoot that completely rewrites the rules for monochromatic styling. Stepping away from conventional birthday gowns, she opted for a vibrant, sun-chaser yellow tailored pantsuit—the kind of look that makes everyone stop to listen when you give that keynote address or walk into the boardroom for that high-level meeting.

The structure of the outfit is where the real magic happens. She wore a double-breasted blazer featuring sharp lapels, a clean plunging neckline, and a swirling layout of linear beadwork running down one side of the torso. This was paired with fluid, wide-leg trousers that anchor the entire silhouette.

An outdoor fashion portrait of Rita Dominic showcasing the detailed lapels, linear embroidery, and textured fabrication of her monochromatic birthday styling.

True to her status as a true fashion girl, the details are fully intentional. She elevated the tailored pieces with matching yellow satin gloves finished with stitched cuff detailing, and balanced the sharp tailoring with a massive, plush faux-fur maxi coat that pools on the floor like a train.

For accessories, she kept it structural and cool: crystal-rimmed cat-eye sunglasses, simple gold stud earrings, and a sleek, high topknot bun that keeps the focus entirely on the clean lines of the outfit.

Leave it to Rita Dominic to give us a masterclass in tonal styling.

Rita Dominic in a yellow double-breasted pantsuit holding a plush faux-fur maxi coat train while posing for her birthday photoshoot against a dark spotlight background.

Photo Credit: Rita Dominic/Instagram

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A flight attendant in a purple uniform wearing a surgical mask, attending to passengers in an aeroplane cabin. Photo credit: jamies.x.co/Pexels.

As a flight attendant, I’ve learned that every boarding pass carries two journeys. One is the obvious one, which is the trip from one country to another. The other journey happens inside the traveller, unseen. I have watched newlyweds hold hands with excitement as they begin a new chapter. I’ve seen students leave home for the first time with dreams bigger than their luggage. I’ve watched parents wipe away tears after saying goodbye to children leaving for university abroad. I’ve seen business travellers carrying laptops and deadlines and pilgrims carrying nothing but faith. Every flight reminds me that people are constantly becoming.

Travel has a way of stripping away the illusion that your own world is the only world. Growing up, you inherit a certain way of thinking. Your family has traditions. Your community has expectations. Your country has habits that feel completely normal. Then you travel, and breakfast looks different. People greet strangers differently. Time moves differently. Success is defined differently. You realise there isn’t only one correct way to live. That realisation is both beautiful and humbling.

One of my favourite moments is watching passengers look out of the aircraft window just before takeoff. For a few seconds, everyone becomes quiet. It doesn’t matter whether they’re CEOs, students, celebrities or first-time flyers. The moment the aircraft lifts off the runway, everyone shares the same space, the same sense of wonder. The sky has a way of making us equal.

As cabin crew, I’ve also learned that kindness speaks every language. I’ve served passengers who didn’t understand a word of English, yet gratitude was obvious in their smile. I’ve comforted nervous flyers without speaking much at all. I’ve discovered that compassion often needs fewer words than we imagine.

Travel teaches you to communicate beyond language. It teaches patience when flights are delayed. It teaches resilience when plans change. It teaches flexibility because sometimes the best memories are the ones you never planned. Perhaps that’s why frequent travellers begin to worry less about controlling every detail. They learn to adapt. And adaptation is one of life’s greatest skills.

Travel has also taught me something unexpected about home. The farther you go, the more clearly you see where you come from. I’ve found myself missing Nigerian laughter in foreign airports. I’ve searched for the taste of jollof after days away. I’ve smiled every time I heard a familiar accent across a crowded terminal. Distance has a funny way of making gratitude louder. Sometimes you need to leave home to appreciate it.

Yet travelling also reminds you that humanity is astonishingly similar. People everywhere love their families. Everyone wants to feel safe. Most people are simply trying to build a better life. The details change, but our hopes don’t. That realisation makes it harder to judge people quickly. Travelling replaces assumptions with understanding.

People often ask me what my favourite destination is. They’re usually expecting the name of a country. But the truth is, my favourite destination has never been a place. It’s perspective. Every journey has stretched my mind a little wider than before. Every airport has reminded me that life is much bigger than the problems waiting for me back home. Every landing has taught me that endings are often just new beginnings wearing different clothes.

Travel changes your conversations. It changes your confidence. It changes your friendships. It changes what you value. It even changes the dreams you dare to dream. You begin to realise that the world is too vast to live inside fear. Too beautiful to remain curious only from a distance. Too connected for us to keep believing that “different” automatically means “wrong.”

People think travel increases your passport stamps. I think it changes your heart. The souvenirs eventually gather dust. The photographs become memories. The boarding passes shred away. But the person you become? That transformation stays with you long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase.

Maybe that’s why I love my job, not because I’m chasing destinations. But because somewhere between departures and arrivals, I’ve found pieces of myself I never knew were missing. Perhaps that’s the real purpose of travel. Not simply to see more of the world. But to see more of yourself.

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World Cup top goalscorers Kylian Mbappé of France and Jude Bellingham of England holding their individual Player of the Match trophies earned during their historic knockout stage campaigns.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been one of the most thrilling tournaments in recent memory, and none of it would have been possible without the players whose goals have kept their countries alive and the crowds on their feet. FIFA has released its top goalscorers standings, and among the leading names on that list are two players whose performances have been at the very heart of their countries’ runs: Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham.

Mbappé currently sits at the top of the Golden Boot standings with an astonishing eight goals, locked in a thrilling neck-and-neck race with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Born in Paris to a Cameroonian father and an Algerian mother, the French captain has been the defining force of this tournament. He opened with a brace against Senegal, added two more against Iraq, delivered another double against Sweden in the Round of 32, converted a crucial penalty against Paraguay in the last 16, and found the net against Morocco to send Les Bleus through.

Kylian Mbappé in the blue France national team kit celebrates one of his tournament goals, leading the Golden Boot standings with eight goals ahead of the semi-final against Spain. Photo Credit: Kylian Mbappé/Instagram

Having already broken the record as the World Cup’s all-time top knockout-stage goalscorer, Mbappé is perfectly positioned to extend his historic run when France faces Spain in a massive semi-final clash on Tuesday, 14 July.

Equally spectacular has been England’s Jude Bellingham. Born in Stourbridge to a father of Jamaican descent, the Real Madrid midfielder has netted six goals in six games. Following back-to-back braces against Mexico in the Round of 16 and Norway in the quarterfinals, he became the first player to register consecutive multi-goal knockout-stage games at a World Cup since Diego Maradona in 1986.

Jude Bellingham in the number 10 white England kit during the World Cup quarter-final match against Norway, where his decisive goal sealed England’s semi-final spot against Argentina. Photo Credit: Jude Bellingham/Instagram

From firing England ahead in their 4-2 opening victory over Croatia to forcing the breakthrough against Panama and dominating the Azteca Stadium against Mexico, Bellingham has been unstoppable. His extra-time winner against Norway sealed England’s place in the semi-finals, setting up a blockbuster showdown against Argentina on Wednesday, 15 July.

Mbappé and Bellingham are not alone in those standings, of course. Lionel Messi sits level with Mbappé on eight goals, while Erling Haaland bowed out of the tournament with seven after Norway’s quarterfinal elimination. Harry Kane, who has gone past Gary Lineker as England’s top World Cup scorer, sits on six alongside Bellingham, meaning England head into the semi-finals with two players in genuine Golden Boot contention. With the semi-finals and potentially a final still to come, the stakes only get higher from here.

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Healthcare professional in blue scrubs consulting a patient indoors. Photo credit: Klaus Nielsen/Pexels.

When I first read about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s fight for answers after the death of her son, Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, I did not read it as news. I read it as a Nigerian, as a sister, and as a member of a family that has lived through the brutal education of public grief. I recognised the machinery: the statements, the denials, the careful institutional language, the legal manoeuvring, the public sympathy that eventually thins into fatigue, and the unbearable expectation that grieving people remain composed while asking the most devastating question of their lives: what happened?

Publicly available reports say Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, have alleged medical negligence following the death of their 21-month-old son at Euracare Hospital in Lagos. Euracare has denied wrongdoing. A coroner’s inquest, which should ordinarily serve as a fact-finding process into the circumstances of a death, has reportedly faced legal uncertainty after Euracare approached the High Court in relation to the proceedings. Evidence, expert testimony, medical records, and due process must be used to test the facts of the case. But beneath the legal vocabulary is a familiar Nigerian story: a child dies, a family asks what happened, and the institution at the centre becomes an actor in the contest over truth.

That is the real scandal. Not that a grieving mother is asking questions. Not that a hospital is defending itself. Not that lawyers are doing what lawyers do. The scandal is that Nigerians have become so accustomed to institutional defensiveness that we sometimes forget what accountability should look like. We have normalised systems in which families must chase records, preserve evidence, hire counsel, correct narratives, manage public opinion, and outlast delays before they can get close to clarity. We have normalised grief as a contest of stamina.

In November 2021, my younger brother, Sylvester Oromoni Jr., died after what my family has consistently described as a bullying-related incident at Dowen College in Lagos. He was eleven years old. His name became known across Nigeria. His face circulated on timelines. His story became a national conversation about bullying, school accountability, institutional responsibility, children’s safety and the limits of public outrage. But before he became a case, he was a child. Before he became a headline, he was my brother. Before strangers debated timelines and institutional statements, he was loved in the ordinary and intimate ways no headline can hold.

Two years later, after numerous delays, a Lagos coroner exonerated Dowen College and the students accused in the matter, attributing the death to other factors, including medical and parental negligence. My father publicly rejected those findings and alleged that vital evidence had been suppressed. That is the public record. But the public record, by its nature, is incomplete. It can capture dates, findings, statements and legal positions. It cannot fully capture what it means for a family to lose a child, then be required to keep proving that the loss deserves seriousness.

That is why what is happening with Adichie’s family feels painfully familiar. I see a grieving mother. I see a family trying to force a system to answer questions it may prefer to manage. I see lawyers, procedure, power, delay, and narrative. I see the same national pattern repeating itself in another form: when something goes wrong, the family must become relentless or risk being buried beneath process.

The question is not whether institutions deserve fairness. They do. No hospital, school, doctor, teacher, administrator, or professional should be condemned without evidence. Public anger can be imprecise. Grief can be raw. Outrage can flatten complexity. Due process matters, especially when the stakes are high. But due process is not supposed to become a fortress against the grieving. It is not supposed to reward the party with more money, more lawyers, more institutional memory, and more time to wait. A process that exhausts families before it reveals truth is not neutral. It is power wearing procedure as clothing.

This is why the Adichie case matters beyond Adichie. If a globally recognised writer, with visibility, resources, legal access, and cultural power, can still appear to face a long and difficult struggle for answers after the death of her child, what happens to the ordinary Nigerian mother whose child dies in a hospital and is told to “take heart”? What happens to the father whose son is harmed in school and is advised to let the matter rest? What happens to the family that cannot afford lawyers, cannot read medical records, cannot command press attention, and cannot pause the daily work of survival to pursue a system built to outlast them?

What happens to the rest of us?

Nigeria’s healthcare crisis makes this question even more urgent. The health system is not merely under pressure; it is structurally overwhelmed. Nigeria Health Watch reported in 2025 that the country had about 2.9 doctors per 10,000 people, roughly one doctor for every 3,474 people. It also estimated that Nigeria would need nearly 400,000 doctors to meet international standards, compared with about 66,000 available. In 2024, 4,193 doctors and dentists left Nigeria.

These are not abstract figures because doctor shortages, stretched nurses, delayed referrals, weak record-keeping, exhausted health workers, and high out-of-pocket costs all affect patient safety. World Bank data shows that out-of-pocket spending made up about 71% of Nigeria’s current health expenditure in 2023.

Many doctors across Nigeria are doing heroic work in conditions that would break people in better-funded systems, so this is not an attack on Nigerian doctors. But compassion for doctors must not excuse institutional opacity. A strained system still owes patients truth. Private hospitals that sell excellence cannot retreat into silence when families allege catastrophic failure.

This is where Nigeria’s class contradictions become impossible to ignore. Euracare is a private hospital in Lagos, the kind of place many Nigerians imagine as safer because it is expensive, modern and elite. If a family with resources can enter a high-end medical facility and still emerge with unanswered questions after a child’s death, then the comforting hierarchy collapses. Money may buy access, but it does not always buy safety. Status may buy attention, but it does not guarantee accountability.

Nigeria needs systems that make accountability routine. Hospitals should be required to preserve and produce relevant records after serious adverse events, families should be informed in plain language about review processes, children’s inquests should be protected from needless delay, and schools should be required to document, escalate, and report serious harm. It is the basic infrastructure of trust.

A society that refuses to ask hard questions after preventable or questionable deaths is not being peaceful. It is being trained to accept loss without explanation, to confuse endurance with virtue, and to treat powerful institutions as untouchable. Public grief taught me that institutions often survive by waiting out emotion. They know the public will move on. They know families will tire. They know legal processes can be slow. They know grief is expensive.

Adichie’s family deserves a fair process. Euracare deserves the opportunity to answer the allegations against it. The courts must do their work. The coroner’s process must be guided by law. But fairness must not become forgetfulness. Legal process must not erase moral urgency. At the centre of all this is a child who died. Around that child is a family asking for answers. Around that family is a country that should be asking what this reveals about the systems we trust with our lives.

Emphasisingly, Nigeria has an accountability problem. We have built institutions that too often ask for trust without offering transparency. We have built systems that treat questions as hostility. We have allowed too many families to discover, at the worst moment of their lives, that truth may be available only to those with the resources to keep fighting. That should shame us.

A country is not judged only by the talent it produces, the writers it celebrates, the doctors it exports, the schools it markets, or the hospitals it builds for those who can pay. It is judged by the enabling systems that exist within it. No family, famous or unknown, should have to fight this hard for answers after losing a child. No child should have to become a headline before institutions are questioned. Grief is already heavy enough to carry. Nigeria must stop making families carry institutions too.

The post Annabel Oromoni: Why Chimamanda Adichie’s Fight for Answers Should Concern Every Nigerian appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Historical trailblazer Barrister Nehemiah Shanum Danjuma in his official legal attire following his induction into the Nigerian legal profession.

It is one thing to graduate from law school in Nigeria and be called to the bar. It is another thing entirely to do so as a deaf person and come out the other side making history. Nehemiah Shanum Danjuma did exactly that this week at the Nigerian Law School call to bar ceremony, walking out as the first Deaf lawyer from Northern Nigeria.

Sharing his win on X alongside his call to bar portraits, Nehemiah wrote: “First Deaf Lawyer from Northern Nigeria. Called to the Bar. History made. Nehemiah Shanum Danjuma, Esq.”

Nehemiah completed his LL.B at the University of Ilorin between 2018 and 2024, before going on to the Nigerian Law School in Abuja for the 2025 to 2026 session. He is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Member of the Institute of Linguists and Arbitrators, and a MTI Accredited Mediator. The man did not come to play.

University of Ilorin alumnus Nehemiah Shanum Danjuma’s Call to the Bar portrait after completing his legal studies at the Abuja campus.

The reactions on X have been pouring in from every direction. His closest friend at the Nigerian Law School had his own story to tell: “My closest friend in NLS Abuja. Had to learn sign language so I could communicate properly with him. Got tired of using notes. Nemmy changed my life!!!!! Congratulations my brooo. Future AGF! Good speed on everyday my brooo.” A former course mate from the University of Ilorin added: “Nehemiah was my course mate back at UIL Law. A jovial and cool guy. Happy for him, mannn. Congratulations, Nemmy.” Others were simply beside themselves. “Omdssss!!!!!! You have two heads ooo how did you do it, Congratulations.” And perhaps the most beautifully put of all the reactions: “Super super proud of you Barrister Nehemiah Danjuma. People like you break the locks to gates that people never knew weren’t meant to be locked.

His friend also made a point worth noting: universities need to stop automatically assigning Special Education to deaf students by default.

Nehemiah Shanum Danjuma marks his entry into the Nigerian legal profession as a member of the Nigerian Law School graduating class.

***

Photo Credit: Nehemiah Shanum Danjuma/X

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Akolade Oduwaiye celebrates her Call to the Bar ceremony following her graduation from the Nigerian Law School Class of 2026. Photo Credit: Akolade Oduwaiye/X

This is one of those days where you will find yourself scrolling through X wishing you had gone to law school. The Nigerian Law School call to the bar ceremony has taken over the timeline today, and the Class of 2026 is sharing stories that are stopping people mid-scroll and making complete strangers cheer for people they have never met.

There is the graduate who lost her mother, battled rheumatoid arthritis, took injections in the exam hall during every single paper, passed out multiple times, had a mental breakdown, and still made it through to become the first lawyer in her entire family. There is Nehemiah Shanum Danjuma, who just made history as the first Deaf lawyer from Northern Nigeria, three words that carry the full weight of what that means for everyone who comes after him.

Nehemiah Shanum Danjuma marks his entry into the Nigerian legal profession as a member of the Nigerian Law School graduating class. Photo Credit: Nehemiah Shanum Danjuma/X

There is the graduate who lost his father just weeks before law school began, who spent the entire year wondering how he would survive without his father’s calls, his prayers, and his quiet confidence, and who graduated today with a First Class LL.B and a First Class at the Nigerian Law School. “I hope I made you proud,” he wrote. “Wherever you are, I hope you’re smiling.” There is the graduate whose parents believed in her so completely that she dedicated every bit of this win to them. And there is the one who simply said “I want it, I got it,” walking away with a First Class B.L, a First Class LL.B, and the Director General’s Prize to go with it.

Behind every wig and gown on that stage today is a journey that most people never fully see. These are not just law graduates. They are people who made it through things that would have stopped most of us in our tracks, and they did it with their names on the other side. The joy on the timeline today is real, and if you are not already feeling something, you will be.

Here are their stories in their own words.

And did!!!
The eternal Elle Woods Stan is a lawyer! https://t.co/e7JuKbgtev pic.twitter.com/xUUbcZNC6g

— Lade •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ (@ladetoile) July 10, 2026

First lawyer in my entire bloodline! The legacy starts with me! pic.twitter.com/QaYmywseFi

— Annie Esq (@livingasannie_) July 11, 2026

OD Yomi-Oshatimi Esq.

LL.B (First Class Honors)
B.L (First Class Honors)

DG’s Prize for First Class.

By God

A LAWYER
AN OUTLIER.

Thank you Jesus #calltobar2026 pic.twitter.com/p6tkhf3uQC

— YODO (@OshatimiDavid) July 10, 2026

G.C Adisa, Esq. Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

L.L.B- Second Class (Upper Division)
B.L – Second Class (Upper Division)

Tier One Lawyer
Which one of God’s blessings can I deny? pic.twitter.com/XaLWYC3pvj

— Udala_Mmicha, Esq. (@Gigi_SaidWhat) July 10, 2026

First class lawyer!! https://t.co/HTTnSNvmqL pic.twitter.com/f89wFVBM36

— Chiazam (@hiChiazam) July 10, 2026

Re-introducing

O.E Arowolo Esq.

L.L.B. (HONS) – FIRST CLASS
B.L. (HONS) – FIRST CLASS

Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria pic.twitter.com/NJAaQTX48P

— Olly Esq (@olatide_arowolo) July 10, 2026

I mean….W jor!
https://t.co/Ya0IkypBk2 pic.twitter.com/Du852UMHug

— Adedeji Ayodeji (@_Emmanuelayo_) July 10, 2026

I doubted myself so many times during this process. My parents believed in me so much and gave me all the resources I needed and the ones I didn’t think i needed. This win is for my parents ! pic.twitter.com/kwSWFYUF8v

— Toyosi Gambo (@GamboToyosi) July 9, 2026

From dropping out of the University of Jos, starting all over with nothing but faith, while many thought my story had ended in failure, to becoming a Lawyer. God truly writes the best stories.

I want it, I got it

B.L First Class, LL.B (Hons)

Director General’s Prize for attaining First Class https://t.co/WPCdTHYmJ1 pic.twitter.com/XfqVuW2KPc

— ✮bunmi esq✮ (@bunmibbyy) July 11, 2026

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Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi in an apple-green satin peplum jacket blouse paired with a textured gold and bronze geometric pattern column skirt.

What do you think of green and gold as a colour combination? Not just any green, we are talking vibrant, unapologetic apple green paired with rich, warm gold. Because this look on Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi might just change your mind about it entirely, or confirm everything you already knew.

The look is anchored by a structured apple-green satin wrapped jacket blouse with a high collar, long sleeves, and wide cuffs that give the top half a sharp, polished finish. Heavy gold embroidery runs along the left shoulder and pulls inward to define a cinched waist, introducing the gold thread that carries through the rest of the look without overwhelming the apple green beneath it. It is considered placement that rewards a closer look.

Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi in a fluid apple-green satin panel cascading from the waist over a fitted floor-length gold column skirt.

From the peplum waistline, a dramatic fluid green panel cascades all the way to the floor, and beneath it sits a fitted floor-length column skirt in a heavily textured woven fabric with a geometric gold and bronze pattern. The two elements work together rather than competing, the flowing outer panel gives the look its movement while the structured skirt underneath grounds everything and keeps it from feeling too loose. It is where traditional textile sensibility and modern tailoring meet, and the result is a look that is both occasion-ready and completely considered.

Apple green and gold just got a very convincing advocate. Save this one

Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi in a structured apple-green satin wrapped jacket blouse with gold embroidery on the shoulder and waist, holding a spherical pearl-embellished handbag.

Photo Credit: Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi/Instagram 

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Crispy homemade sweet potato chips fried to a golden crunch using white sweet potatoes, oil, and a sprinkle of salt following the Kikifoodies recipe.

Movie night, road trip, something to munch on while you’re working, or simply because you’re craving something crunchy, sweet potato chips always seem to fit the assignment. The only problem? One handful somehow turns into the whole bowl. Thankfully, Kikifoodies has shared a homemade Sweet Potato Chips recipe that’s surprisingly simple, and you only need three everyday ingredients to make it happen.

Made with white sweet potatoes, oil and a sprinkle of salt, these chips come out crisp, lightly sweet and wonderfully satisfying. If you’ve only ever reached for the regular potato version, this might be the recipe that changes your mind. White sweet potatoes, the variety many of us grew up eating in Nigeria, fry up beautifully and deliver the crunchy texture every good chip should have.

A batch of crunchy, lightly sweet fried potato chips made with three simple everyday ingredients based on the Kikifoodies video tutorial.

The process is all about a few simple steps done well. Slice the sweet potatoes as thinly and evenly as possible, rinse them until the water runs clear to remove excess starch, then dry them thoroughly before frying. Once they hit the hot oil, patience is key. As the bubbling begins to slow, you’ll know they’re almost ready. A quick sprinkle of salt while they’re still warm is all they need before cooling into crisp, golden chips.

They’re delicious on their own, easy to share, and just as easy to keep reaching for. If you’re looking for a homemade snack that’s simple, affordable and worth making again, this Sweet Potato Chips recipe is one to save.

Watch how Kikifoodies makes them below.

Watch below

Photo Credit: Kikifoodies

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Wumi Toriola wearing three of her six birthday outfits: a violet sequined gown with an asymmetric neckline, a strapless white corset mini dress with gold paneling, and a teal hand-beaded mermaid gown.

Do you think 6 looks are too much to celebrate your birthday? Wumi Toriola thinks not and so do we!

The Nollywood actress and producer chose to greet her new year with an impressive style marathon, showcasing structural fashion and distinct textures. Sharing several photos across her social media, Wumi paired her visual updates with moving reflections on growth, personal survival, and gratitude for her dedicated fanbase.

Before the clock officially struck midnight, she explicitly set the tone for her celebrations by playfully warning well-wishers to ditch predictable birthday greetings. “Please don’t start your birthday wishes with ‘A queen was born.’ I was born crying like everyone else. Just say ‘Happy Birthday’ and keep it moving,” she shared.

Here is a full breakdown of the fashion journey Wumi curated for her special day.

The Pre-Birthday Opener: Northern Elegance

Wumi kicked off her style rollout a day early with a refined take on traditional attire. She wore a beautifully structured peplum blouse and matching column maxi skirt crafted from a slate grey and muted purple patterned fabric. The silhouette featured elegant scalloped embroidery tracing the cuffs, neckline, and hem, which she completed with a pristine white structured Gele and a deep purple clutch. Hinting at what was to come, she wrote: “It’s my birthday tomorrow, The Northern side of me has come to play.”

Nollywood star Wumi Toriola pays homage to Northern Nigerian fashion in a tailored traditional outfit with scalloped embroidery for her pre-birthday celebrations. Photo Credit: Wumi Toriola/Instagram

Look 1: The Beaded Mermaid Masterpiece

To officially open her birthday morning, the movie star opted for an aquatic theme. She stepped out in a floor-length illusion gown covered in hand-beaded wave patterns of teal, emerald green, and royal blue. Shimmering crystal fringe capes draped across her shoulders, whilst the lower section of the skirt featured oversized, iridescent blue sequin discs overlapping to resemble stylized fish scales. Wumi marked this initial post with deep gratitude: “Today, I don’t just celebrate my age, I celebrate my growth, my survival, my wins, the quiet strength that carried me through every chapter.”

Actress Wumi Toriola in her official birthday portrait wearing an aquatic-inspired mermaid gown adorned with shimmering shoulder fringe and oversized blue sequins. Photo Credit: Wumi Toriola/Instagram

Look 2: Royal Purple Structure

Next, she transitioned into a deep, regal tone. Wumi chose a form-fitting column gown completely saturated with dark violet sequins and metallic beads. The asymmetric neckline featured structured floral applique work on one shoulder, anchored by a structural, fan-like satin wing extending from the back.

Wumi Toriola in a floor-length violet gown saturated with sequins and metallic beads, featuring an asymmetric neckline with floral applique on one shoulder and a structured, fan-like sculptural wing extending from the back. Photo Credit: Wumi Toriola/Instagram

Look 3: Golden Metallic Glamour

Leaning into short, contemporary cuts, the next style phase shifted toward rich metallics. She wore a strapless white mini dress built around a structured corset bodice that featured heavy silver and gold crystal stonework. This was paired with abstract leaf-shaped gold panelling at the waist and delicate filigree embroidery on the skirt. Reminding everyone of her priority for the day, she added: “Today’s Agenda: Me. Tomorrow: Still Me.”

Nollywood producer Wumi Toriola in an opulent gold and white embellished birthday mini dress with a structured bodice and metallic paneling. Photo Credit: Wumi Toriola/Instagram

Look 4: The Sculpted Lavender Fantasy

Wumi returned to sweeping hemlines with a striking pastel hue. She chose a lilac gown with a heavily beaded bodice, long sheer mesh sleeves, and a crystal-embellished illusion neckline. The defining feature of this outfit was an architectural, heavily pleated ruffle that curved diagonally across her torso and framed a high thigh-slit before trailing onto the floor.

Nollywood star Wumi Toriola celebrates her birthday wearing an architectural lilac evening gown designed with an embellished illusion neckline and a flowing tulle train. Photo Credit: Wumi Toriola/Instagram

Look 5: Cream Architectural Mini

She concluded the extensive style exhibition with a unique, texturally complex look. Wumi wore a halter-neck structured mini dress constructed from a uniquely linear woven cream fabric. The dress featured an optical, sculpted shape contrasted by large, deep chocolate rosettes placed at the shoulder and lining the wavy hem. Ending her day on a high note, she wrote: Ending her day on a high note, she wrote: “I see the love, I feel it…”

Actress Wumi Toriola in a halter-neck structured mini dress made from linear woven cream fabric with large dark chocolate rosettes at the shoulder and wavy hemline. Photo Credit: Wumi Toriola/Instagram

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Heineken has unveiled Bar De Change, Nigeria’s first social currency exchange, introducing a new way for travelers to enjoy familiar social experiences beyond the country’s borders. Available to Nigerians travelling to the United States and Mexico, the platform allows consumers who purchase a Heineken in Nigeria to receive a gift card redeemable for a Heineken abroad at the same price paid at home. Nigerian travellers can be part of the experience by visiting the Heineken bar at the Sapphire Lounge in the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) before departure, purchasing a Heineken to receive a Bar De Change gift card, and redeeming it at participating Heineken bars in the United States or Mexico.

For many Nigerians, international travel begins with a stop at the Bureau De Change, a familiar ritual in which local currency is exchanged for foreign currency before a journey begins. Bar De Change reimagines the simple purchase as an opportunity for connection, allowing travellers to carry a familiar social experience with them as they explore new destinations.

The idea is rooted in an insight: while destinations change, the desire to connect with people and share memorable moments remains the same. Yet for Nigerian travellers, exchange rates mean that the same experience can cost significantly more abroad. Bar De Change bridges that gap, ensuring that a Heineken purchased in Nigeria can unlock the same premium experience abroad.

Through the initiative, travelers who purchase a Heineken at the Sapphire Lounge in the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) receive a gift card that can be redeemed at participating locations across the United States and Mexico. The result is a seamless experience that allows consumers to enjoy a Heineken overseas at the same value they paid at home.

Bar De Change builds on its successful introduction in South Africa, reflecting Heineken’s continued focus on creating experiences rooted in local insight. For Nigerian travellers, this offers a simple but meaningful way to stay connected to familiar experiences, regardless of where their journey takes them.

Speaking on the initiative, Maria Shadeko, Portfolio Manager for Premium Beer at Nigerian Breweries Plc, said,

“Heineken has always believed that the best experiences are shared. Bar De Change brings that belief to life in a way that feels particularly relevant to Nigerian travellers today. It turns a familiar travel ritual into a social experience, allowing consumers to enjoy a Heineken abroad at the same value that they have at home.”

Bar De Change builds on Heineken’s global Fans Have More Friends platform, which celebrates the power of shared experiences to bring people together across cultures, languages and borders. Bar De Change is now available in Nigeria for eligible travelers heading to the United States and Mexico to purchase at the Sapphire Lounge, Muritala Muhammed International Airport from July 7th to 19th, 2026.

Sponsored Content

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Celebration Church International (CCI) has marked two significant milestones during its annual Mid-Year Thanksgiving service, celebrating six months in its first permanent global headquarters and the growth of its membership to more than 30,000 across its global network.

The service was held simultaneously across the church’s campuses in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Ireland, North America and Australia, bringing together thousands of worshippers in a moment of reflection and gratitude for the first half of the year.

The occasion also marked a new chapter in the ministry’s thirteen-year journey. Founded in Lagos in 2012, Celebration Church International has grown from a single gathering into a global ministry with 55 campuses and 28 cell churches across Africa, Europe, North America and Australia.

Earlier this year, the church moved into Celebr8 Centre HQ on Vori Close, Lagos, establishing its first permanent global headquarters after more than a decade of operating from temporary venues. The facility now serves as the administrative and ministry hub for its growing international network.

Speaking during the service, Founder and Lead Pastor of Celebration Church International, Apostle Emmanuel Iren, described the milestones as an opportunity to reflect on the ministry’s journey while remaining focused on its mission.

“Thirteen years in, and what God has done is worth marking. But we are more interested in what He is about to do. It is a reason to thank forward with greater conviction. The work of building people, strengthening communities and reaching cities is nowhere near finished, and honestly, that is the most exciting thing about where we are right now.”

The Thanksgiving service reflected the church’s 2026 theme, “The Ebenezer Year”, a year dedicated to remembering God’s faithfulness and expressing gratitude for His help. Throughout the service, members reflected on the journey so far while looking ahead with renewed expectation for the rest of the year.

Beyond the milestones, the church reaffirmed its continued focus on biblical teaching, discipleship, leadership development and community outreach, which have remained central to its work since its founding.

Celebration Church International‘s next major gathering, Reboot Camp 2026, will first take place internationally in Toronto, Canada, from 4–6 September, before returning to Lagos, Nigeria, for the main event from 3–6 December. Both editions are expected to bring together thousands of attendees from across the diaspora and around the world.

About Celebration Church International

Celebration Church International (CCI) is a non-denominational Christian ministry founded in 2012 by Apostle Emmanuel Iren. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, the ministry serves more than 30,000 members through a network of 55 campuses and 28 cell churches across Africa, Europe, North America and Australia.

The church is committed to biblical teaching, discipleship, leadership development, community outreach and global missions, with a vision to see one billion souls in ten thousand cities encounter endless life in Christ Jesus.

Sponsored Content

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Nigerian music superstar Tems photographed indoors wearing luxury outerwear for her 2026 British Vogue interview spread.

Tems is one of the most compelling voices in music right now, and British Vogue’s latest interview with the Nigerian superstar is one of the most revealing conversations she has had in a while. Shot in London, where she has lived for the past five years, the interview covers the full arc of her journey, from a quiet girl in Lagos who did not speak until she was three, to a two-time Grammy winner whose voice has landed on records with Beyoncé, Drake, Justin Bieber, and Dave.

She talks about the new music she has been working on, the mentorship initiative she launched in 2025 to support young African women in music, her deep love for Frank Ocean, her west London flat, and the fashion identity she has built alongside her stylist Dunsin Wright. It is warm, unguarded, and worth reading in full.

Read excerpts from the interview below:

Tems photographed by Nadine Ijewere wearing a cream Dior silk gown for her British Vogue profile feature.

On Growing Up and Always Singing

Growing up in Lagos, Tems was, by her own account, “mad quiet,” so quiet she did not speak until she was three years old. But music found its way through regardless. She started writing songs at around nine and sang constantly around the house, much to everyone’s frustration. “They could lock me up in a room and force me to do homework,” she says, “but they could not stop me from singing.”

On Leaving Her Job to Pursue Music

Before music took over, Tems studied economics in Johannesburg and worked in marketing. Quitting to pursue music in 2018 was not exactly met with enthusiasm. “People were side-eyeing me a lot,” she says. “I was just like, ‘Well I really love this and I know I can do it, and I don’t know why I love it so much, but this is where I’m meant to be.'”

On New Music

Tems has been quietly working on something new, though she is not giving much away. “I’m always writing music, even when I’m not in the studio,” she says. “I feel something and then I sing it.” She is clear about the direction, though. “I don’t really think I’m a singles kind of artist. I feel like I’m more of a project kind of person… But yeah, I’ve been writing some songs.” The music, she says, is making her “feel good.”

Tems styled by Jessica Will in Givenchy by Sarah Burton pieces for her London-based British Vogue cover story shoot.

On Awards and Achievements

For someone with two Grammys, a UK number one, and a Billboard Hot 100 debut at the top, Tems is remarkably unbothered by accolades. “I try not to be like, ‘Oh, I really need to get this Grammy’ or ‘I need to get this chart position.’ That’s a lot of pressure. I know so many amazing artists who I feel should have got Grammys. Are they any less amazing because they didn’t get an award? I know when I feel really, really good about a song. Even if nobody listens to this song, ever, I will enjoy this song for myself.”

On Her Fashion and Style

Tems has built a fashion identity that moves between comfort and full glamour depending on the occasion, working closely with her stylist Dunsin Wright to wear designers like Dilara Findikoglu, Ellie Misner, Luis de Javier, and Ozwald Boateng. “I choose comfort a lot,” she says. But there is always room for something more. “They say Yoruba women like bling, so I always have to have something that shines.”

On Working With Justin Bieber

Last year, Bieber flew Tems to the south of France to work on music during the recording of SWAG, sessions that eventually produced their collaboration “I Think You’re Special.” He later invited her on stage at Coachella in April 2026. “Justin is a sweetheart,” she says. “He’s so cute. He is a great person.”

Tems wearing a mustard-yellow ruffled tiered dress by Saint Laurent with an ornate chandelier earring and a heavy statement pendant necklace.

***

Photo Credit: British Vogue 

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Infinix has officially announced Nigerian music sensation Qing Madi as the face of its all-new HOT 70 Pro, marking the beginning of an exciting campaign that celebrates creativity, individuality and fearless self-expression.​

The partnership brings together one of Africa’s fastest-rising music stars and one of the world’s most youth-driven smartphone brands, united by a shared belief that young people should have the freedom to express who they are, push boundaries and shine unapologetically.​

Over the past two years, Qing Madi has become one of the defining voices of a new generation of African music. With hit records, millions of streams across digital platforms, international recognition and a rapidly growing fanbase, she has carved out a reputation for authenticity, originality and effortless confidence. Rather than following trends, Qing Madi has consistently created her own lane, qualities that perfectly mirror the philosophy behind the HOT 70 Pro.​

For Infinix, whose products are built around the lifestyle and ambitions of Gen Z consumers, the collaboration is more than a celebrity endorsement. It is a celebration of a generation that refuses to blend in.​

The HOT 70 Pro was designed for young creators, students, trendsetters and digital natives who see their smartphone as more than a communication device. It is a tool for creativity, productivity and personal expression.​

Leading the experience is the Active Matrix Cube, the evolution of Infinix’s signature Active Matrix Display. Built into the phone’s distinctive “Sugar Cube” camera design, the interactive display allows users to customise animated pixel art, create unique lighting effects, receive intelligent notifications and even share custom creations instantly with compatible devices using NFC. The feature transforms the smartphone into a dynamic extension of its owner’s personality, making every interaction feel uniquely personal.​

Designed under Infinix‘s Dynamic Shine Design philosophy, the HOT 70 Pro introduces finishes that evolve with light and movement, alongside an ultra-slim profile that feels as premium as it looks. Every colourway has been crafted to help users stand out while expressing their individuality, an approach that aligns naturally with Qing Madi‘s bold artistic identity.​

Beyond its striking design, the HOT 70 Pro delivers meaningful innovation for everyday life. Its IP68-rated dust and water resistance gives users the confidence to create wherever inspiration strikes; rom rainy commutes and poolside moments to spontaneous adventures, without worrying about accidental splashes or water exposure.​

The device also combines a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7100 5G processor with a smooth 144Hz display, a long-lasting 6000mAh battery, AI-powered productivity tools and a 50MP Sony IMX882 imaging system capable of capturing stunning Live Photos and content that keeps pace with today’s always-on generation.

Speaking on the partnership, Oluwayemisi Ode, PR Manager, Infinix Nigeria, described Qing Madi as the perfect embodiment of the HOT series’ youthful spirit.​

“The HOT Series has always represented confidence, creativity and individuality. Qing Madi embodies those values in every sense. She is talented, fearless, authentic and deeply connected with today’s generation of young Nigerians. Her journey reflects exactly what the HOT 70 Pro stands for—standing out, embracing originality and expressing yourself without limits. We couldn’t think of a better person to lead this campaign.“​

Sharing her excitement about joining the Infinix family, Qing Madisaid:​

“I’ve always believed that the best version of yourself is the one that’s unapologetically authentic. That’s why this partnership feels so natural to me. The HOT 70 Pro is bold, creative and different, and I love how it encourages people to express themselves in their own way. I’m excited to begin this journey with Infinix and connect with fans through this campaign.”​

Fans won’t have to wait long to experience the collaboration firsthand.​

Qing Madi will make her first official appearance as the face of the Infinix HOT 70 Pro at the HOT 70 Pro “Be Seen Be Hot” Campus Storm, taking place on Thursday, July 10, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).​

Expected to attract thousands of students from UNILAG, Yaba College of Technology and the Federal College of Education, the Campus Storm promises to be one of the biggest youth experiences of the season. Attendees can expect immersive product experiences, games, creator interactions, exclusive giveaways, live entertainment and a special meet-and-greet with Qing Madi before she headlines the event with a live performance.​

More than just a campus activation, the event marks the official beginning of the HOT 70 Pro movement; a celebration of confidence, creativity and individuality, where technology meets music, fashion and youth culture.​

For fans of Qing Madi, lovers of innovative technology and anyone looking to experience the next chapter of the HOT Series firsthand, the HOT 70 Pro Be Seen Be Hot Campus Storm at UNILAG is shaping up to be one of the must-attend events of the year.​

With Qing Madi leading the campaign, Infinix is once again reaffirming its commitment to empowering the next generation with technology that does more than perform, it inspires, connects and gives every young person the confidence to be seen, be heard and be unforgettable.​

Be Seen. Be Hot.

Sponsored Content

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Held from June 29 to July 4, 2026, Africa Creative Market (ACM), in partnership with Creative Industries Business Summit Zambia (CIBSZ) and KWIMBO, transformed Lusaka into a vibrant hub for Africa’s creative economy.

The conference took place from June 29 to July 2 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, before culminating in the KWIMBO National Arts Festival at the Lusaka Showgrounds on July 3 and 4.

Throughout the week, creatives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, development partners, and industry leaders from across Africa came together under one shared vision to strengthen the continent’s creative industries through collaboration, innovation, and investment.

The convergence officially opened with the ACM × CIBSZ Opening Ceremony, themed “Positioning Zambia as Africa’s Next Creative and Digital Economy Powerhouse.” The ceremony welcomed government representatives, development organisations, and creative industry leaders, including Dr. Inya Lawal, Founder of Africa Creative Market, alongside representatives of the Government of Zambia, the Nigerian High Commission, and other key stakeholders, all reinforcing the importance of positioning creativity as a driver of economic growth across Africa.

From there, the conversations only grew richer.

One of the standout sessions on opening day was The YouTube Economy: A Creator’s Roadmap to Revenue, convened by Oma Areh, Founder of Digital Creator Africa. Featuring creators including Layi Wasabi and Olufemi Oguntamu (Penzaar), the session explored audience growth, content strategy, monetisation, and the realities of building sustainable businesses in today’s creator economy.

Running alongside it was the Creative Capital Forum, themed “Unlocking Zambia’s Next Growth Frontier: Investing in the Creative Economy.” Industry leaders, including Uche Okocha of Trino Motion Pictures, International actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim, and Maanka. A Chipindi, Director of Zambia’s National Arts Council, examined the role of policy, infrastructure, and investment in unlocking Africa’s creative potential.

The Visual Arts and Craft Summit, moderated by Oyinkansola “Foza” Fawehinmi, explored how artists and artisans can preserve culture while embracing innovation and expanding into global markets. The summit also featured conversations on digital art and emerging technologies, including insights from Malik Afegbua, Founder of Slickcity Studios.

The first day concluded with the NAMA Awards Gala, celebrating excellence across Zambia’s creative and cultural industries.

Day two shifted the focus towards law, technology, and creative entrepreneurship.

Convened by Oyinkansola “Foza” Fawehinmi, the Global Creative Legal Summit brought together legal practitioners, policymakers, and creative entrepreneurs for important conversations around copyright, royalties, intellectual property, licensing, and the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The discussions reinforced the importance of building stronger legal systems that protect African creatives while enabling cross-border collaboration.

The Creative Technology Summit explored the future of storytelling through animation, augmented reality, and virtual reality. One of its most anticipated sessions featured Malik Afegbua in conversation with Tosin Ajibade, Founder of OloriSuperGal, on “Building Africa’s Animation Industry: Talent, Studios & Global Opportunities,” where attendees gained valuable insights into scaling African animation studios for global audiences.

The day also featured The Activated Creative Summit, convened by Adeola Kingsley-James, alongside the Comedy & Literary Summit, where creatives explored storytelling, publishing, humour, and audience engagement as powerful tools for business growth and cultural impact.

On July 1, the spotlight turned to film, photography, and live performance.

The Women in Film & TV Conference(WIFT), led by Dr. Inya Lawal, brought together leading women across Africa’s screen industries to discuss leadership, collaboration, inclusion, and sustainable career development. The conference highlighted the importance of creating stronger pathways for women working across film, television, and digital media.

The Theatre & Dance Summit, moderated by Ayanda Sithebe of Actor Spaces, featured conversations with acclaimed actor Deyemi Okanlawon and other industry professionals, exploring the evolving relationship between theatre, film, and performance across Africa.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom Film Festival, convened by Evwoma Luther-Abegunde, explored faith-based storytelling, funding opportunities, and global distribution strategies for African filmmakers.

Photography professionals also gathered for the Business of Photography Summit, convened by Kola Oshalusi, Founder of Insigna Media Studios. Featuring respected photographers, including Kelechi Amadi-Obi and other industry experts, the summit examined branding, business development, technology, and the evolving landscape of commercial photography.

Conversations around content distribution continued through the Distribution Summit, where speakers examined audience access, distribution models, and strategies for ensuring African stories reach wider global audiences.

Another highlight was the Women in Film & TV (WIFT) Africa Gala and Awards, which brought together filmmakers, producers, executives, and creatives from across the continent. The gala provided an opportunity to honour outstanding contributions while reinforcing WIFT Africa’s commitment to advancing inclusion, leadership, and collaboration across film, television, and digital media.

The conference concluded on July 2 with another full day of impactful conversations.

The FashionEVO Summit, convened by Dr. Yetty Ogunnubi, brought together designers, buyers, investors, and fashion entrepreneurs such as Ejiro Amos-Tejiri, Moriam Musa, and Blessing Achu for discussions on innovation, intellectual property, sustainability, and positioning African fashion for greater global competitiveness.

The Actor Spaces Summit, led by Ayanda and Felicia Sithebe, focused on strengthening Africa’s acting ecosystem through skills development, professional opportunities, and sustainable career pathways.

Music professionals also gathered at the Music Summit, where conversations explored music publishing, monetisation, rights management, and the future of Africa’s sound economy.

Live AI Filmmaking Demonstration by Malik Afegbua

Another major highlight came during the Digital Creator Africa Summit, co-founded by Oma Areh, where Malik Afegbua delivered a captivating Live AI filmmaking demonstration that showcased how artificial intelligence is reshaping filmmaking, storytelling, and digital content creation across the continent.

Another memorable moment was the Zambian premiere of 77: The FESTAC Conspiracy. The screening attracted an enthusiastic audience and was attended by members of the film’s cast, including Ramsey Nouah and Rita Dominic, who joined filmmakers, creatives, and festival delegates in celebrating one of Africa’s most anticipated cinematic releases.

The premiere underscored the growing importance of cross-border collaborations and the role of African cinema in preserving the continent’s rich cultural history while reaching global audiences. After four days of conferences, the energy shifted outdoors as the KWIMBO National Arts Festival took over the Lusaka Showgrounds on July 3 and 4.

The festival celebrated Zambia’s vibrant cultural landscape through music performances, theatre, poetry, exhibitions, food, networking experiences, and family-friendly activities. Fashion enthusiasts also enjoyed the FashionEVO Runway Show and Awards, which celebrated outstanding designers and innovators shaping Africa’s fashion industry.

The week concluded with the ACM Next Level Competition, where ten finalists showcased their creativity before a panel of judges, with one exceptional participant emerging as the winner.

For us at BellaNaija, ACM 2026 was more than an event; it was an opportunity to witness Africa’s creative future unfolding in real time. Every conversation reinforced the importance of collaboration across borders, investment in creative talent, and building sustainable industries that empower the next generation.

Before heading back home, we also took time to experience another side of Zambia by visiting the Chaminuka Nature Reserve, where we explored one of the country’s most remarkable conservation destinations.

It was the perfect way to round off an unforgettable week, reflecting on new ideas, meaningful connections, and the incredible creativity that continues to shape Africa’s future.

Until next time, Zambia.

BellaNaija is a Media Partner for Africa Creative Market x Creative Industry Business Summit (CIBS) x Kwimbo National Arts Festival

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The rescued pupils and educators from Baptist Nursery and Primary, Community High, and L.A. Primary schools following security agency intervention.

After 56 days of fear, uncertainty, and national anguish, the news Nigeria had been waiting for finally arrived on Friday 10 July 2026. All the pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on 15 May have been rescued, the Presidency confirmed, bringing relief to the affected families and closing one of the most distressing chapters in recent Nigerian history.

The ordeal began on the morning of 15 May 2026, when heavily armed men riding motorcycles simultaneously raided Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community High School in Ahoro-Esinele, and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esinele, abducting 49 pupils, teachers, and a toddler during school hours. The assailants arrived while children were already seated in their classrooms, firing shots before seizing them without resistance. The victims ranged in age from as young as two years old to 16, with teachers taken alongside them.

The rescue was confirmed by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who announced on X: “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies.” Eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while others were neutralised during the operation. The Presidency also confirmed there was no quid pro quo in the rescue, as the terrorists had demanded the release of a kingpin, a demand the government did not meet.

A group of abducted children and teachers from schools in Oriire, Oyo State, after their successful rescue operation.

President Bola Tinubu, in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed joy at the outcome and commended the military, DSS, and police for their work throughout the 56-day ordeal. “I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire, Ogbomoso in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them. This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular,” he said.

The President also pledged justice for the victims and the family of Mr Oyedokun. “My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered,” he said. President Tinubu commended the Oyo State Government for cooperating with the Federal Government throughout the rescue efforts, and directed emergency agencies to work with the state government to provide medical and relief support to the rescued pupils and teachers.

Photo Credit: Bayo Onanuga/X

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Asake staging a traditional matador confrontation scene for the official MCBH cinematic visuals.

Just when you think you know what an Asake video will look like, he heads for the countryside. His new visuals for “MCBH” (Money Can’t Buy Happiness) trade city streets for castles, bulls, and sweeping green landscapes, taking one of the standout tracks from his fourth studio project, M$NEY, in a striking new direction.

The video opens with an aerial shot of a historic moated castle surrounded by rolling green fields, immediately setting a different mood. From there, it never stays in one place for long. One minute, Asake is dressed like a matador in a white jacket covered with pearls and crystals, confidently facing down a black bull with a bright red cape. The next, he is levitating inside a vast stone hall beneath a mounted bull’s head before the scene shifts again.

As the video unfolds, it moves between countryside luxury and surreal imagery with quick, unexpected transitions. You see Asake riding a motorcycle through quiet rural roads, relaxing on an outdoor sofa while pouring a glass of wine, and walking through grand interiors that feel worlds away from the bustling cityscapes often seen in music videos.

And it doesn’t stop there. A woman points a vintage revolver straight at the camera. An off-road buggy launches over strips of red fabric spread across the ground. In another striking shot, the reflection of a human figure appears in the eye of the bull. Every few seconds, there is something new to take in, making the visuals just as engaging as the song itself.

Produced by Blaisebeatz and Alhaji Tunga, “MCBH” is one of the standout records on M$NEY, the album that recently became the longest-charting number-one album on Apple Music Nigeria in 2026. If the project was already on your playlist, these visuals give you another reason to press play.

Watch below

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Creative industry leaders have called for greater investment in women as Nigeria works to unlock the full economic potential of its creative economy, warning that limited access to funding, leadership opportunities, infrastructure and visibility continues to hold back one of the country’s most important growth sectors.

The call was made at the Women in the Arts: Power, Voice and Economic Impact convening, organised by the National Delphic Council Nigeria in partnership with Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR). The gathering brought together leading voices across film, theatre, visual arts, cultural enterprise, public policy and development to examine how women are shaping Nigeria’s creative sector and what must change for them to participate more fully in its growth.

The conversation comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to position its creative and tourism sectors as major drivers of economic diversification. In 2025, the Federal Government outlined a roadmap targeting $100 billion in GDP contribution by 2030 and the creation of over three million jobs across the creative economy and tourism sectors.

Nigeria’s creative sector already holds significant global relevance, with Nollywood recognised as the second-largest film industry in the world by output, producing over 2,500 films annually. The National Bureau of Statistics also classifies motion picture, sound recording, music production, broadcasting, arts, entertainment and recreation as measurable contributors to national output.

Speaking at the convening, Amina Oyagbola, President of the National Delphic Council Nigeria and Founder of WISCAR, said Nigeria cannot build a globally competitive creative economy while women continue to face barriers to funding, leadership and market access.

“Nigeria’s creative economy will not reach its full potential if the women driving culture, storytelling, enterprise and innovation remain under-supported. This is no longer just a gender conversation. It is an economic imperative. When we invest in women in the arts, we are investing in livelihoods, stronger industries, cultural preservation and the future competitiveness of Nigeria’s creative economy.”

She noted that women continue to shape Nigeria’s creative life across film, music, fashion, visual arts, literature, theatre and cultural enterprise, but stressed that their contribution must be matched with deliberate support systems, including financing, mentorship, infrastructure, policy inclusion and access to platforms that connect them to wider markets. Her speech specifically framed the arts as instruments for identity, connection, peacebuilding and economic impact, while calling for practical action to expand women’s participation and leadership in the sector.

Representing the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Obi Asika, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, delivered a goodwill message reaffirming the importance of elevating female voices within Nigeria’s arts and culture ecosystem.

The event featured contributions from respected creative leaders, including Veteran Actress and Director, Joke Silva; Founder and CEO of Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austen-Peters; Executive Producer and Media Entrepreneur, Temidayo Makanjuola; Founder of the Christopher Okigbo Foundation and Member of the National Delphic Council Nigeria, Obi Okigbo; and Managing Director of Quintessence Nigeria Limited, Jude Oni-Okpako. Speakers shared insights on leadership, visibility, resilience, creative entrepreneurship and the support required to build a more inclusive sector.

The convening also brought together senior leaders from the global Delphic movement, including President of the International Delphic Council, Davina Bautista; Secretary General of the International Delphic Council, Ramesh Prasana; Vice President of the International Delphic Council, Roberta Williams; President of Delphics Rajasthan, Sreya Guha; and Founder of Mbarikola and Vice President of the National Delphic Council Nigeria, Ugoma Ebilah.

The discussions also reflected global concerns around gender inequality in the cultural and creative industries. UNESCO has noted that although women make up almost half of the workforce in culture and entertainment, they remain underrepresented in leadership and overrepresented in precarious work.

Participants called for stronger collaboration between government, private sector organisations, cultural institutions, development partners and creative entrepreneurs to ensure women are not only visible within Nigeria’s creative economy, but positioned to lead, own, scale and benefit from its growth.

The convening concluded with a call to move beyond celebration to intentional investment in women as creators, business leaders, employers, cultural ambassadors and drivers of national development.

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Lupita Nyong’o standing on the red carpet in an asymmetrical handkerchief hemline dress and metallic bronze strappy heeled sandals.

Lupita Nyong‘o looked so spectacular at “The Odyssey” premiere in Paris that it is genuinely difficult to decide where to focus first. Between the coral-red Chanel dress, the architectural hair, and those deep burgundy lips, every single element demands a closer look.

At first glance, it is the rich colour that grabs you. Then you notice the texture of the dress itself. Designed by Matthieu Blazy for Chanel, it trades smooth satin for open-work lace that almost resembles branching coral structures. From a distance, it reads as one striking silhouette, but up close, every photo reveals new detail within the fabric. The scooped neckline features subtle embellishments, while the asymmetrical handkerchief hem falls in uneven layers that move naturally as she walks.

Lupita Nyong’o’s embellished red Chanel dress at The Odyssey film premiere press run.

Then your attention shifts to her hair. Vernon François styled Lupita’s natural hair into sculptural loops that rise across the crown like wearable art. It is a style that transforms depending on the angle; framing her face beautifully from the front, while the looping shapes become distinct individual sculptures from the side. Coupled with the dress, it gives the entire appearance a gallery-quality feel without looking overly serious.

Lupita Nyong’o’s wearable art updo by Vernon François at Le Grand Rex premiere in Paris.

For the beauty notes, Nick Barose kept the makeup rich and warm, pairing softly smoked eyes with high-gloss burgundy lips that sit comfortably against the coral tones instead of competing with them. Gold sculptural ear cuffs introduce another subtle texture without pulling focus, while minimalist, metallic bronze sandals quietly finish the styling.

Photographed by Abdoul Kader Adjagbe, every frame invites you to pause a little longer to appreciate how perfectly all these creative choices aligned.

Lupita Nyong’o in a textured coral-red Chanel gown designed by Matthieu Blazy for the Paris premiere of The Odyssey.

***

Photo Credit: Lupita Nyong’o/Instagram

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If you only followed the headlines, you’d think Nigeria’s creative industries had finally arrived – sold-out arenas, Netflix premieres, Grammy nods, global chart domination. And in many ways, they have. Afrobeats is a genuine export. Nollywood is a genuine export. Nigerian creativity, by any measure, has gone global.

But talk to the people actually building things – the producers, the filmmakers, the fashion designers, the young creative trying to make sense of a contract for the first time, and you’ll hear a quieter, more complicated story. It’s a story about power outages during recording sessions, about impossible budgets stretched past their limit, about talented people spending more time solving basic logistical problems than actually developing their craft.

That gap, between the talent Nigeria clearly has and the systems meant to support it, is exactly what Shola Bamidele, founder of Loom Rooms, has built his work around.

Talent Was Never the Problem

Ask Bamidele what surprised him most since starting Loom Rooms, a creative hub based in Egbeda, in Lagos’s densely populated Alimosho area, and he won’t say it’s how much raw talent he’s encountered. He expected that. What caught his attention was how much of that talent gets spent fighting problems that, in a more developed creative economy, simply wouldn’t exist.

Musicians who make extraordinary records but don’t understand music publishing. Filmmakers with brilliant scripts who have no idea where development funding even lives. Designers building genuinely world-class brands with zero protection on their intellectual property. These, as Bamidele puts it, aren’t failures of creativity. They’re failures of access.

And access, in Nigeria’s creative scene, tends to travel through private networks rather than public knowledge. The funding, grants and training exists. But unless you happen to know the right person, you may never even hear about them.

Why Egbeda, of All Places

Loom Rooms could have opened in Lekki or Yaba, the usual creative postcodes. Instead, it opened in Egbeda, a deliberate choice. Bamidele has been vocal about rejecting the idea that creative excellence only happens in a handful of fashionable Lagos neighbourhoods. Some of the country’s most gifted creatives, he argues, live in communities exactly like Alimosho. Talent doesn’t have a postcode requirement. Opportunity shouldn’t either.

The hub’s philosophy is built around what happens when creatives share physical space — a producer bumping into a filmmaker, a fashion designer meeting the photographer who transforms their brand, a songwriter finally finding the producer they’ve been searching for. Those unplanned collisions, multiplied enough times, start to look like an ecosystem.

A prime example of this ecosystem in action is PopLandmark at Landmark Lagos, where Loom Rooms hosts The Future Concert in partnership with Zema Alte Management. Held every first Thursday of the month, the event serves as a concrete launchpad for the next generation of singers, talk show hosts, and podcasters.

Stars Are Not the Same as Institutions

One of the more pointed observations Bamidele makes is that Nigeria has become exceptional at producing individual stars, but far less consistent at producing institutions that outlast them. When a key person leaves, the structure they built often disappears with them. It’s an understandable pattern in an environment where survival comes first and twenty-year thinking feels like a luxury; but it’s also, in his view, the reason progress in the creative economy keeps resetting to zero with every new generation.

Loom Rooms is his answer to that pattern: not another co-working space with fast Wi-Fi and pretty desks, but a deliberate attempt to build the mentorship, structure, and long-term community that turns individual success into something that compounds.

Measuring Success Differently

Ask Bamidele how he measures Loom Rooms’ success, and occupancy rates aren’t the first thing he mentions. He’s more interested in what happens after people leave the building. Did someone find a business partner there? Did a collaboration turn into a company? Did a young creative finally feel confident enough to build something sustainable?

That’s a harder thing to put on a dashboard, but it’s arguably the more honest metric for what a creative hub is actually for.

An Infrastructure Story, Not Just a Talent Story

The broader point Bamidele keeps returning to is this: Nigeria doesn’t have a talent problem, and hasn’t for a long time. What it has is an infrastructure problem, a shortage of affordable workspaces, legal literacy, mentorship, funding pathways, and the professional networks that quietly decide whether someone builds a career or eventually gives up.

Loom Rooms is a bet that if you build even a small piece of that missing infrastructure, in a place like Egbeda, for people who’ve historically had to travel across the city just to feel like they belonged in a “creative space”, the results compound. Not overnight, and not through any single hit record or viral moment, but through the slow, unglamorous work of connecting people who should have met years ago.

It’s not the kind of story that trends on Twitter. But it might be the story that determines whether Nigeria’s next creative decade looks like its last one, or something considerably more sustainable.

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Mr Eazi’s multi-genre collaboration Lambo featuring Jamaican artist Vybz Kartel marks his latest experimental dancehall release under the emPawa Africa label. Photo Credit: Mr Eazi/Instagram

You know that feeling when the weekend arrives and the music drops at exactly the right time? That is precisely where we are right now.

Between Fave returning with her most ambitious EP yet, Victony reminding everyone why he is one of the most dependable voices in Afrobeats, a long-awaited link-up from two Niger Delta legends, and Mr Eazi taking a full dancehall detour with Vybz Kartel, this weekend’s listening list is completely sorted. Here is what you need to know.

Fave — RnBling EP

Fave is back with her third EP, and this time she brought company. RnBling is a six-track project that marks the first time the singer has featured guest artists on an EP, and the pairings are brilliant. Chike appears on “Miss You” and Yemi Alade joins on “Paparazzi”—two collaborations that sit naturally alongside Fave’s soulful, introspective sound. Following her 2022 project Riddim 5 and 2024’s Dutty Love, this new body of work features cohesive production from Dunnie, Deeyasso, and Damie that rewards a full listen from start to finish.

The official digital cover art for Nigerian singer Fave’s six-track musical project RnBling featuring the project title in glittering script. Photo Credit: Fave/Instagram

Victony — Slick

Victony remains one of the most consistent names in Nigerian music, and “Slick” is exactly what the title suggests. Released via Encore Recordings and produced by Ozedikus and Dera The Boy, the track takes a more laid-back approach than his previous records, with his vocals gliding over mellow production, warm harmonies, and atmospheric synths. It is the kind of song that never tries too hard and is all the better for it.

The official cover artwork for the Afrobeats single Slick by Victony, released via Encore Recordings. Photo Credit: Victony/Instagram

Timaya and Duncan Mighty — Kontrol

Two Niger Delta legends, one record. Timaya and Duncan Mighty have reunited on “Kontrol,” a track that brings together Afrobeats, Afro-dancehall, and highlife into something that sounds both nostalgic and completely current. Produced by Spotless, it marks Timaya’s first official release of the year. The two artists share an easy chemistry that comes through immediately, resulting in a record built entirely for the dance floor.

Mr Eazi — Lambo (feat. Vybz Kartel)

Mr Eazi continues his sonic journey this year, and “Lambo” is one of its most compelling stops. Teaming up with Dre Skull and the legendary Vybz Kartel, the emPawa Africa founder leans fully into a classic dancehall sound. The interplay between Mr Eazi and Kartel is fascinating, showing two distinct artists finding a natural meeting point for pure, unfiltered weekend listening.

Mr Eazi’s multi-genre collaboration Lambo featuring Jamaican artist Vybz Kartel marks his latest experimental dancehall release under the emPawa Africa label. Photo Credit: Mr Eazi/Instagram

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Photo Credit: Rema/Instagram

Did you see what Rema did in Paris?

If you were at Remaland on Saturday night, you already know. And if you were not, sit down, because this one is worth talking about. Rema stood centre-stage beneath a massive winged raven sculpture and started leading the entire arena in the old Nigerian National Anthem. Thousands of people, in Paris, singing along, completely locked in. It was already a moment. And then he pulled the rug from under everyone.

Without a single warning, the anthem cut away and “Kelebu” came in, brass, bass line, and all. The crowd lost their mind and the mood flipped in a heartbeat. We are talking instant screaming, jumping, pure disbelief, the kind of reaction that tells you nobody in that building had any idea it was coming. A live horn section walked out through smoke, a giant bat took over the backscreens, flags went up everywhere, phone lights blurred across the arena, and just like that, Paris became one massive dance floor.

The transition lasted maybe two seconds. The talking about it will last a lot longer. Rema knew exactly what he was doing, and Paris felt every single second of it.

Watch below

 

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Image by Mizuno K for Pexels.

There was a time when I felt disconnected from my style. Not because I didn’t love fashion. I’ve always loved fashion, but somewhere between becoming a mum, navigating body changes, managing responsibilities, and simply doing life, I no longer felt like the woman I used to be.

My body had changed. My lifestyle had changed, and so had my priorities. Yet, I was still trying to dress the old version of myself, and that left me feeling frustrated. I found myself wondering why getting dressed felt harder than it used to. Why some clothes no longer felt right. Why I admired other women’s style but struggled to feel confident in my own.

What I eventually realised was that the problem wasn’t my wardrobe. It was that I hadn’t taken time to understand who I was becoming in this new season, and I believe many mums are experiencing the same thing. We’re trying to dress a version of ourselves that no longer exists. We’re using style rules from ten years ago. We’re comparing ourselves to women in completely different seasons of life.

Yet, we wonder why we don’t feel confident. That’s why rebuilding your style isn’t really about clothes. It’s about rediscovering yourself. If I wanted to become more style-confident and body-confident today, this is the one most important place to start from:

Knowing the kind of clothes that you genuinely love, whether it is tees, short dresses, colorful outfit, free outfits, hugging or fitted clothes. In other words: What is my personal style? Knowing your personal style changes everything.

It helps you build your wardrobe with clarity and intentionally that accommodates the new version of you without chaos. It helps you stop comparing yourself to others. It helps you appreciate another woman’s style without feeling the need to become her. It helps you shop more intentionally. It helps you build a wardrobe that reflects who you are. It helps you feel more confident in what you wear.

Many moms think confidence comes after buying new clothes. I don’t believe that’s where it starts. I believe confidence starts with clarity. Clarity about who you are. Clarity about what you love. Clarity about how you want to show up in the world. Because the first step to style and body confidence isn’t buying more clothes. It’s understanding yourself well enough to know what truly feels like you. And when you know what you love, getting dressed becomes less about impressing people and more about expressing who you are. That is where style confidence begins. 

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Lagos is gearing up for a major literary and business event this July! On Monday, 13 July 2026, Narrative Landscape Press will host the highly anticipated public presentation of The Challengers: The Disruptive Nigerian Entrepreneurs Creating a Billion-Naira Company, written by acclaimed novelist and entrepreneur Dr. Eghosa Imasuen.

Described as an exclusive literary and business soirée, the launch will convene distinguished statespersons, industry leaders, and lovers of enterprise. For those looking to glean insights into scaling a business in Nigeria, the event promises to be a goldmine. The Challengers moves away from the myth of the single, all-powerful tycoon, spotlighting how Nonso Okpala, Adeniyi Adenubi, Mobolaji Adewumi, Gbenga Omolokun, Azubike Emodi, and their co-founders turned the wreckage of the 2008 financial crisis into the multi-billion-naira VFD Group. 

Here is what to expect at this landmark gathering:

Special Guest of Honour: Former President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who also authored the book’s foreword, will be in attendance.

Live Moderated Dialogue: Renowned media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo will lead an unscripted, live conversation with Dr. Imasuen and the VFD Group founders to unpack the realities of building a collaborative empire.

Book Review: Channels Book Club host, Kunle Kasumu, will provide a formal review of the corporate thriller.
Master of Ceremonies: The event will be hosted by media personality Isabella Adediji.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the book, the author Eghosa Imasuen shared: 

“The aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis created what is in retrospect a perfect environment for the rise of a new kind of Nigerian entrepreneur. The founders that I write about realised the truth in the saying, ‘You want to go far, go together.’ I look forward to presenting this story to Nigerians.” 

How to Attend

Because the venue has a strict capacity limit, this is an invitation-only event. However, Narrative Landscape Press has opened a limited number of tickets for business leaders, SME founders, students of enterprise, and the general public who want to join the conversation. If you want a front-row seat to this masterclass in Nigerian entrepreneurship, you need to reserve your spot early!

Grab your tickets and entry passes now at: tix.africa/discover/chbook26

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Gbubemi Ejeye pairs an inventive evening beauty look and a crown-like natural hair statement updo with a strapless orange and black textured outfit.

Excuse us while we spend the next few minutes talking about Gbubemi Ejeye‘s hair.

Some hairstyles deserve a second glance. This one deserves several.

Worn for her birthday photoshoot, Gbubemi’s latest natural hair creation is less about following trends and more about showing just how far creativity can go when natural hair becomes the canvas. It is bold, sculptural and the kind of style that keeps revealing something new every time you look at it.

Instead of a traditional updo, her hair is shaped into oversized rope-like loops that rise from the crown before curving into dramatic circular forms. Nestled between them are rounded afro puffs that add fullness and soften the overall silhouette, creating a beautiful balance between structure and texture. From every angle, the hairstyle looks like a carefully crafted piece of wearable art.

Gbubemi Ejeye wears an avant-garde braided updo style paired with thick metallic bracelets and a textured sequined bodice in a black and white artistic portrait.

One of our favourite things about it is that it relies entirely on the hair itself. There are no elaborate accessories. No embellishments competing for attention. Just natural texture, thoughtful styling and a whole lot of imagination.

The rest of the beauty look knows exactly when to step back. Soft neutral makeup, defined eyes, glossy nude lips and simple gold earrings frame her face without pulling attention away from the hairstyle. Against the rich red backdrop, every curve and detail of the updo becomes even more striking.

Natural hair has never been limited to twists, braids or sleek buns, and Gbubemi’s latest look is another reminder of that. It is inventive, beautifully executed and the kind of hairstyle that belongs in every natural hair inspiration folder.

Safe to say, we’ll be thinking about this one for a while.

Gbubemi Ejeye models a creative traditional African threaded hair design paired with glossy nude lips, gold earrings, and matching thick bracelets.

Photo Credit: Gbubemi Ejeye/Instagram 

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The landscape of modern home entertainment and smart connectivity across the nation has been completely redefined following the grand TCL Nigeria Product Launch. Cementing its position as one of the Global Mini LED and Ultra Large Screen TV brand and one of the undisputed Mini LED TV brand locally by unit sales in H2 2025, the global electronics giant delivered a masterclass in innovation.

The landmark event seamlessly blended high-end lifestyle with cutting-edge tech, officially unveiling TCL’s revolutionary SQD-Mini LED technology alongside a suite of AI-enabled Google Smart Home appliances to an eager Nigerian audience.

The Guest List: Tech Meets Lifestyle

The star-studded affair brought together some of the most notable names in Nigerian entertainment, tech, and lifestyle to experience a new standard in home connectivity. Guests who stepped out to experience the new standard of premium home entertainment included tech and lifestyle content creator Kagan, tech reviewer Valor, media personality Simi Drey, lifestyle content creator Chukwusomaga, Superstar lawyer and TV personality Akunna Esq, lifestyle influencers Mimii, Moetolani, Sheila, and Henrietta Itepu, event host and media personality Jimmie Akinsola, lifestyle content creators Onion Cider, Osarogie, and Busayo Debs, lifestyle influencer Neo Akpofure, actor and content creator Elozonam, reality TV star and chef Lucy Edet, food creator I Am Risky, reality TV star and lifestyle influencer Sheggz Olusemo and so many others. 

The Highlight of the Night: Experiencing the Innovation

At the center of the showcase was the 2026 TV range, anchored by the premium flagship TCL C7L. Guests were treated to an incredibly immersive viewing experience, witnessing the highly anticipated introduction of SQD-Mini LED technology to the Nigerian market.

The cinematic display was perfectly paired with Premium Audio by Bang & Olufsen, filling the venue with rich bass and clear, custom-tuned sound that proved exactly why TCL remains at the absolute forefront of immersive home entertainment.

High-Stakes Gaming & Showdowns

What truly set the night apart was how the event came alive with intense, high-energy entertainment that put TCL’s display capabilities to the ultimate test. The crowd went wild during the fierce gaming challenge between Sheggz and Neo, where the competitive spirit was through the roof. The energy spiked even higher during the legendary FIFA face-off between Kagan and Akuna, with guests crowding around the massive, ultra-responsive C7L screens. The lightning-fast refresh rates and lag-free performance turned the virtual football matches into an absolute stadium-like spectacle, proving that TCL isn’t just about premium viewing but it’s a gamer’s paradise.

Executive Vision

Addressing the elegant crowd, Daniel Ray, General Manager of TCL West Africa, reaffirmed the brand’s dedication to the local market, teasing exciting future local assembly prospects aimed at boosting job creation.

“Nigerian consumers deserve the very best in picture quality and home technology without the premium price tag,” he shared during his address. “As the first to bring SQD-Mini LED technology to the local market, we are proud to deliver exceptional brightness, cinema-grade colour accuracy, precise light control, and immersive audio at prices that make true flagship performance more accessible than ever before.”

He further emphasized TCL’s vision for a connected ecosystem, stating that the brand is focused on “delivering smarter, more immersive and more accessible technology that enhances how people live, connect and experience entertainment at home.”

Availability

The full 2026 TCL product lineup is now officially available for purchase at SIMS Nigeria and other leading retailers nationwide. For more information on TCL’s newest innovations, visit 

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Nigerian actress Rita Dominic in a structured purple evening gown with sheer mesh sleeves, metallic strappy heels, and a curly updo hair style.

Purple has always been a colour that knows how to command attention, and Rita Dominic wears it like she has known that all along. Her latest look is elegant, beautifully sculpted, and the kind that keeps you looking a little longer because there is always another detail to notice.

The off-the-shoulder outfit is centred around a striking bodice, where heavily pleated fabric sweeps across the torso before opening into a sculptural peplum that gives the silhouette its shape. Sheer fitted mesh sleeves in the same royal purple soften the structured design, while the floor-length skirt, finished with a thigh-high slit, brings a modern edge to the look.

Rita kept the styling simple, letting the purple take centre stage. She paired the outfit with a textured tan clutch, metallic strappy heels and gold jewellery that added a warm contrast to the rich jewel tone without competing for attention.

Rita Dominic wears a structured purple fashion piece featuring tight fabric pleats, gold rings, and a voluminous curly updo.

Her voluminous curly updo framed the off-the-shoulder neckline beautifully, bringing the entire look together with an easy elegance.

Rita Dominic has always had a way of choosing pieces that feel timeless while still feeling current, and this royal purple moment is another reminder of that. Whether you’re gathering ideas for your next owambe, evening celebration or formal event, this is one look that’s worth saving.

Rita Dominic styling a rich jewel-toned purple formal dress with warm-toned accessories including gold jewellery and a woven leather tan clutch.

Photo Credit: Rita Dominic/Instagram 

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Sharon Leal, Tasha Smith, Taraji P Henson, and Jill Scott drinking wine on a sofa in the official teaser trailer for Netflix film Why Did I Get Married Again by Tyler Perry.

The long-awaited reunion is officially happening. Netflix has unveiled the first teaser trailer for Why Did I Get Married Again?, the third instalment in Tyler Perry’s iconic relationship drama franchise, and it looks like we are in for a wild ride.

It has been sixteen years since we last checked in on our favourite, beautifully chaotic friend group in 2010’s Why Did I Get Married Too?. This time around, the crew is heading to Lake Como, Italy, for a stunning destination wedding. The occasion? Marcus and Angela’s oldest daughter is getting married.

But because it is a Tyler Perry film, things are never quite that simple. While the original couples gather to celebrate love, they quickly realise that time has not watered down their old habits. Even more intriguing, their now-grown children are starting to mirror the exact same relationship mistakes their parents made years ago.

The official Netflix promotional poster for Why Did I Get Married Again?, premiering globally on Wednesday 9 September 2026. Photo Credit: Tyler Perry/Instagram

Talking to People about the fresh direction of the sequel, Tyler Perry shared:

We’ve seen these couples go through everything, but watching them navigate their kids making the same mistakes? That’s a whole new level of drama. I wanted to explore how the trauma and triumphs we experience in our own marriages bleed into the next generation.

Fans will be thrilled to know that the original heavy hitters are back to reprise their roles. Jill Scott (Sheila), Tasha Smith (Angela), Michael Jai White (Marcus), Richard T. Jones (Mike), Lamman Rucker (Troy), and Sharon Leal (Dianne) are all confirmed.

The biggest buzz, however, surrounds Hollywood powerhouse Taraji P. Henson, who officially joins the ensemble as Roselyn. She plays a fierce, successful businesswoman and a long-time friend of the group whose child is actually marrying Marcus and Angela’s daughter.

Richard T. Jones returns as Mike in Tyler Perry’s highly anticipated 2026 Netflix sequel, tracking the relationship evolution of the core friend group. Photo Credit: Tyler Perry/Instagram

Interestingly, bringing this sequel to life was no easy feat for Perry. The filmmaker recently revealed that he actually broke his collarbone in a severe bicycle accident in Italy just two weeks before production began. Despite the painful injury, he pushed through directing, writing, and acting, though he joked that his constant warning to the cast—”Watch my shoulder”—became so repetitive that the co-stars eventually used it as the official name for their group chat.

Why Did I Get Married Again? is scheduled for a global release on Netflix on Wednesday, 9 September 2026.

Watch below

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Nigerian singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Kemuel returns with “Osei Baby,” the lead single from his third EP, “Borokiri Boy,” arriving August 7. The release marks a pivotal moment in his artistic journey, revealing an artist who has fully settled into his voice, his sound, and his identity.

Over the last four years, Kemuel has quietly built one of the strongest catalogs of his generation, evolving from the breakout promise of “Champagne Girl” into a respected songwriter and recording artist, with credits including Wizkid. Last year, he signed with independent Nigerian label Muse Studios, marking another milestone in a career defined by steady growth and creative conviction. Now, with Borokiri Boy – the final chapter before his debut album in 2027 – he enters a new creative phase defined by confidence, precision, and intention.

Built on rich Afro-fusion production by his alias, Wondah – “Osei Baby” is a confident celebration of love and devotion. Kemuel delivers one of his most commanding vocal performances to date, pairing melodic finesse with a subtle Michael Jackson-inspired flourish in the second verse – a nod to one of the artists who helped shape his musical instincts.

If Borokiri Boy is the beginning of Kemuel’s next chapter, “Osei Baby” makes one thing clear: he’s no longer introducing himself. He’s defining the standard for everything that’s to come. To Listen click HERE 

About Kemuel:
KEMUEL is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, producer, & multi-instrumentalist who has steadily carved out his place as one of the most exciting voices in African music. Since releasing his debut single, “Champagne Girl,” 4 years ago, he’s built a reputation for honest songwriting, soulful records, and his versatility, both as an artist and a songwriter, with credits including Wizkid.

Kemuel Socials
TikTok: @kemuelthekid
X: @kemuelthekid
Instagram: @kemuelthekid

Sponsored Content

The post Kemuel Opens a Bold New Chapter with “OSEI BABY” appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Funke Akindele during her exclusive BellaNaija interview discussing her filmmaking journey, Behind The Scenes, and her vision to build the next generation of female filmmakers in Nigeria.

If there is one person in Nollywood who does not do things by halves, it is Funke Akindele. From the “Jenifa” franchise to “Battle on Buka Street” to “A Tribe Called Judah” and now “Behind The Scenes,” she has consistently redefined what Nigerian cinema can achieve, both commercially and culturally. And now she has sat down with BellaNaija for one of the most candid conversations she has had on camera in a while, covering her filmmaking journey, her records, her relationships, her dancing, and the conversations the industry keeps getting wrong.

“Behind The Scenes” is the latest entry in a box office story that keeps writing new chapters. The film broke Akindele’s own previous records, which is no small thing given what those records already looked like, and in this interview she talks about what goes into making films at that scale, the pressure of following up on something the whole industry is watching, and what keeps her going when it would be far easier to play it safe.

She also gets into the personal stuff, and she does not hold back. Her relationships with the people around her, the narrative that follows her in the industry, and who she actually is when the cameras stop rolling. It is the kind of conversation that reminds you there is always more to a person than the version the public gets to see.

Then there is the dancing, which, if you have watched any of her film promotions, you know is very much part of who she is. She explains in the interview why she does it, and the story behind it is not what you would expect. Akindele revealed that she first started dancing to promote her film Battle on Buka Street because she simply did not have the budget for PR and marketing, and dancing became the way she got the word out. It worked, and the rest is history. She also credits her mother for the moves, so now you know where it all comes from.

And she takes on the cinema sabotage conversation head-on, speaking directly about what she has experienced, what she believes, and what she thinks needs to change in Nollywood for these conversations to be had honestly.

Grab your popcorn. Watch till the end.

The post “I Want to Build the Next Generation of Female Filmmakers”: Funke Akindele on Nollywood, Box Office Records & More appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

“We are excited to go on this journey as a team and we have taken a lot of learnings from our previous film. As young filmmakers, one of our aim is to continue to creatively look for ways to innovate” Nora Awolowo who leads the team at Rixel says.

In collaboration with Filmone Studios andc, Black Market will host 50,000 people for a single screening of Black Market in an official Guinness World Records attempt to surpass the current record of 43,000 – the largest number of people to screen a film in a single location.

“We are incredibly excited. This is more than a film project. It’s an opportunity to create history and showcase Nigerian creativity and Nollywood on a global stage”. Ladun Awobokun, Chief Content Officer at Filmone tells us this week.

“There is nothing more inspiring to me than seeing young people challenge conventions and push the boundaries of innovation. This project is especially close to my heart because it represents what is possible when bold ideas meet determination and collaboration” Damilola Osikoya, CEO at Switch Visuals Production offers.

Shot in Abeokuta, Nigeria, Black Market was directed by Fatimah Gimsay and stars Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Itele D Icon, Scarlet Gomez, Omowunmi Dada, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok and Uzor Arukwe.

Others include Folagade Banks, Tomiwa Tegbe, Andrew Yaw Bunting, Shamz Garuba, and Adeoluwa Akintoba.

“From Day One, we were determined to make a fun film and we made it with the best people. This was a great challenge for everyone and we can’t wait to share it with the world” Fatimah Binta Gimsay, the film director says.

The Event is in partnership with MTN, Signet Ring Studios, Swoop and Bellanaija.

BellaNaija is a Media Partner for Rixel Studios

The post Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman Lead New Nollywood Movie Targeting Guiness World Record appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Featured Image by PNW Production/Pexels.

It was 10:47 p.m., and Amaka sat on the kitchen floor, crying. Her baby had been unusually fussy all day and had spilt juice on the freshly folded laundry. Dinner was late. The sink was full. In between cleaning the stained laundry and trying to manage her very active baby all day, she had forgotten to eat. Again.

Still on the floor, she pulled out her phone. Her hands moved instinctively. She just opened her contacts and phoned her younger sister.

“Hello?” her sister answered.

For fifteen minutes, she talked. She talked about how tired she was. How invisible she felt. How motherhood now seemed to consume every part of her life. How she couldn’t remember the last time she had done something simply because she enjoyed it. How she loved her babies deeply, but sometimes missed the woman she used to be. The experience of motherhood was all too much at once.

Her sister listened. Occasionally, she laughed. Occasionally, she sighed, but she listened. When the call ended, Amaka felt lighter.

When she looked up, her husband was standing at the kitchen entrance. He had heard enough to understand what the conversation had been about.

“What happened?” he asked gently. Amaka wiped her eyes.

“Nothing,” as she had said for months.

The truth was that she wasn’t angry with her husband. He wasn’t abusive or cruel. He wasn’t a villain. In many ways, he was trying. But somehow, when life became overwhelming, he was never the person she reached for. She could cry with her sister. She could confide in her. She could admit weakness to her mother. But with her husband, she felt the need to be composed, put together, even when she wasn’t, especially when she wasn’t.

Weeks later, while reflecting on her marriage, Amaka stumbled on a realisation that unsettled her. If she were in trouble, she would call her sister first. If she failed at something, she would tell her sister first. If she felt overwhelmed, she would cry alone first, then call her sister.

As time passed, her husband—the person closest to her—was no longer the one she felt safest with. This realisation was painful because she loved him. The more she reflected on it, the more it became clear that the issue wasn’t just about phone calls. It was about emotional safety and vulnerability. It was about whether she felt free to bring her true self into her marriage, not just the capable, organised, and cheerful version of herself, but the tired, confused and overwhelmed version. The version that didn’t have all the answers.

As a counsellor, I have spent years studying the topics of motherhood, marriage, and identity. One pattern I consistently observe is that many women do not lose themselves in motherhood simply because they become mothers. They lose themselves because they assume the responsibilities of motherhood while carrying everything on their own. The burden of childcare can be overwhelming, with heavy physical demands and an unrelenting mental load. What often exacerbates the struggle is the lack of an emotional resting place—a space where a mother can safely express her feelings and concerns such as:

“I am struggling.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“I am afraid.”

“I need help.”

“I am not okay today.”

When vulnerability disappears, isolation grows. When isolation grows, identity often begins to shrink. This is why I believe that one of the most important questions a married woman can ask herself is not, “Do I love my husband?” The question is:

“Is he the person I instinctively reach for when life becomes too heavy to carry alone?”

If the answer is no, the next question should be why. Because every marriage has a story. For some couples, the answer may be unresolved hurts. For others, it may be family patterns, upbringing, poor communication, emotional immaturity, or years of simply functioning as teammates instead of intimate partners. Some situations are deeply unhealthy. Others are repairable. But they are rarely identical.

Which is why every marriage must be understood within its own story. I want mothers to know that: You were never designed to carry motherhood alone. Not emotionally and definitely not mentally. The goal is not perfection, but connection. Because sometimes the first sign that a woman is losing herself is not exhaustion. It is realising that when she is falling, the person she promised to do life with is no longer the person she instinctively calls.

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Burna Boy is confirmed to headline the historic 11-minute halftime show at MetLife Stadium. Photo Credit: Burna Boy/Instagram 

The FIFA World Cup Final just got a lot more exciting, and not just because of what will happen on the pitch. FIFA has announced the full line-up for the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, and Burna Boy is on it. The Nigerian Afrobeats superstar will take the stage at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on 19 July 2026, alongside co-headliners Shakira, Madonna, and BTS, with Justin Bieber also joining the line-up. The 11-minute performance, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, will also feature Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus, a choir of elementary school students from Staten Island, New York, and Coldplay themselves. Even the Muppets are involved.

Burna Boy’s inclusion in this line-up is no coincidence. He and Shakira collaborated on this year’s official World Cup song, “Dai Dai,” released on 15 May 2026 through Sony Music Latin and Ace Entertainment, and the two have already shared a stage at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico on 11 June. The track, whose title is borrowed from Italian and means “come on, come on,” brings together Afrobeats and Latin rhythms into a genuinely global anthem, co-written by Shakira, Burna Boy, Benny Adam, and Jon Bellion.

Burna Boy and Shakira share a warm embrace backstage following their live performance of the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem “Dai Dai”. Photo Credit: Burna Boy/Instagram 

Burna Boy said in a statement: “The FIFA World Cup is one of the few moments that truly brings the entire world together. To represent Africa on the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show is a privilege and a responsibility that I don’t take lightly. I’m honoured to be part of a performance that not only celebrates football and culture, but also helps create greater opportunities for children through education around the world.”

Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy delivers a live performance on the pitch during the global opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup tournament in Mexico. Photo Credit: Burna Boy/Instagram 

The halftime show is a first for football. Unlike the Super Bowl, which has made its halftime performance one of the most watched entertainment events in the world, major football finals have historically featured pre-match concerts rather than halftime performances. The FIFA World Cup Final on 19 July 2026 changes that, and with a line-up that spans Afrobeats, Latin pop, K-pop, and rock, it is shaping up to be as significant a cultural moment as the match itself.

The post Burna Boy Joins Shakira, Madonna & Justin Bieber for FIFA’s Historic Halftime Show appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

On stage at the BellaNaija Next Gen Creator House workshop in Lagos: BellaNaija’s Client Services & Growth Coordinator Collette Otsu, Abisola Alawode, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, and Korty EO

On 25 June 2026, we opened our doors to some of Nigeria’s most promising young creators, and what happened inside was exactly what we hoped it would be. The BellaNaija Next Gen Creator House, our full-day immersive workshop for creators between the ages of 18 and 25, built in partnership with Google Gemini, was one of the most rewarding things we have done in our 20th anniversary year, and we mean that.

The room was full of young people who are serious about their craft, and we made sure they left with more than inspiration. Through workshops, mentorship sessions, creator challenges, interactive discussions, and live Google Gemini sessions, we brought some of the most respected names in Nigeria’s creative industry into the same space as the next generation, Toke Makinwa, Tosin Ajibade, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Korty EO, Abisola Alawode, Uzoamaka Power, and Taiwo Kola–Ogunlade, and let the conversations flow.

Emerging digital storytellers, journalists, and lifestyle creators engage with industry speakers during the educational masterclasses in Lagos.

The conversations were as practical as they were candid. Toke Makinwa encouraged creators to be hungry for success, following their paths and dreams regardless of how unconventional they might look. Enioluwa Adeoluwa pushed back against the idea of treating content creation as a hobby, telling attendees to bring the same structure to their craft that any professional would bring to a career. “You should provide structure around what you do, have your work hours, and team if you can afford it. Above all, create,” he said.

Korty EO shared the thinking behind her approach to interviewing: “Be interested in your guests, be curious about them and their journeys, that is the only way you can have great conversations with them.” Tosin Ajibade kept her advice precise and memorable: “Follow the trend but evolve while at it.” Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade encouraged creators to let their analytics guide their decisions in an increasingly algorithm-driven world, while Uzoamaka Power made a case for authenticity over imitation.

Emerging digital storytellers, journalists, and lifestyle creators engage with industry speakers during the educational masterclasses in Lagos.

For creators working within organisations rather than independently, Abisola Alawode offered a reframe: you do not need to be an entrepreneur to be a creator, you can build within the structures you already belong to, within your organisation’s policies and vision.

As a platform turning 20, this event meant something personal to us too. Our Head of Editorial and Innovation, Oluwadunsin Sanya, spoke about what two decades of positive storytelling has taught us, and the responsibility that comes with the platform we have built. “The stories you tell today are the stories we’ll become tomorrow,” she said, and it is a line that stayed with everyone in that room.

Addressing the 20-year milestone of BellaNaija, Oluwadunsin Sanya, Head of Editorial and Innovation, delivers a powerful keynote on reshaping the narrative of African successes and ethical journalism.

Our Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy Mary Edoro, who served as Programme Director of the Next Gen Creator House, put it best when she described what we were really trying to do: “Next Gen Creator House is BellaNaija’s answer to a question we’ve been asking ourselves throughout our 20th anniversary year: what does it mean to genuinely invest in the next generation, not just talk about them? This wasn’t just a conference about young creators. It is a space we have intentionally built for them, with the tools, mentorship, and access to actually build something real for Africa’s future.”

Toke Makinwa speaking into a microphone on stage during a fireside chat moderated by Omotunde Ibironke, Head of Partnerships and Growth at BellaNaija.

Google’s Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade leads an interactive digital literacy masterclass on implementing generative AI tools into creative production workflows.

Toke Makinwa shares advice on building personal brand longevity and a legacy-driven media footprint.

Recognising outstanding talent, winners of the live digital challenge receive prizes on stage following the Google Gemini AI workshop session.

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Television host Nancy Isime poses in a custom liquid-silver metallic co-ord set that infuses modern fabric textures into traditional Nigerian fashion.

We have seen metallic silver before, but Nancy Isime just proved there is still so much more the colour can do. The Nollywood star and media personality stepped out in a liquid-silver coordinates set that merges avant-garde structure with classic Nigerian celebration at a wedding, and the result is one of the most striking owambe looks we have seen in a while.

The talking point of the outfit is the architectural top. The metallic plissé fabric is shaped into dramatic, voluminous statement sleeves that frame her beautifully, while the waist is cinched with a structured off-white pointed corset detailed with muted abstract embroidery, grounding the liquid-like sheen of the silver with something more tactile. Down below, a floor-skimming column maxi skirt pools smoothly at her feet, occasionally parting to reveal sleek pointed silver heels.

The complete silhouette of Nancy Isime’s silver ensemble, highlighting how the pooling plissé maxi skirt and pointed metallic heels create an elongated, elegant frame.

Rather than going fully monochromatic, the styling brings in a warm counterpoint. Perched on her head is a traditional gèlè in a metallic rose pink, and the contrast between the cool silver of the coordinates and the warmth of the pink headtie creates a visual balance that lifts the entire look. Nancy completed things with a silver Lady Dior top-handle handbag, minimal silver necklaces, and a sleek wrist cuff. The beauty look stays warm and neutral throughout, a softly defined eye, brown lip liner, and a high-shine nude gloss.

Nancy Isime’s accessories, featuring a limited-edition architectural metallic Lady Dior bag paired with a structured dragonfly and butterfly print corset.

Save this one for your next owambe.

Nancy Isime pairs a classic rose-tinted Aso-Oke headtie with a glossy neutral lip and soft purple eyeshadow tones for a festive style celebration.

Actress Nancy Isime adds a contemporary twist to her traditional attire with metallic-rimmed eyewear, balancing the cool tones of her sculptural silver outfit.

***

Photo Credit: Nancy Isime/Instagram

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Diaspora stars Kylian Mbappé (Cameroonian-Algerian), Bukayo Saka (Nigerian), and Jude Bellingham (Jamaican descent) who are dominating the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout matches for France and England.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been one of the most extraordinary tournaments in recent memory, and Africa has had its fingerprints all over it. Ten African nations qualified, the largest contingent in World Cup history, with nine making it out of the group stage. Egypt made history by reaching the Round of 16 before bowing out to Argentina, while Morocco remain the last African nation standing, now in the quarterfinals.

But beyond the African nations themselves, a generation of footballers of African descent, playing for France, England, Spain, and Belgium, have been among the most compelling players at the tournament. Here are ten worth knowing about.

Elite wingers Bukayo Saka, Kylian Mbappé, and Jérémy Doku highlight the deep African roots present within the England, France, and Belgium squads at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kylian Mbappé (France) Born in Paris to a Cameroonian father and an Algerian mother, Mbappé has been the story of this tournament. Seven goals in five appearances, including braces against Senegal, Iraq, and Sweden, plus a penalty against Paraguay that sent France into the quarterfinals. He now has 19 career World Cup goals, second only to Lionel Messi, and became France’s all-time leading international scorer along the way, surpassing Olivier Giroud’s record of 57 goals. France face Morocco in the quarterfinals.

France captain Kylian Mbappé of Cameroonian and Algerian descent celebrates another clinical knockout stage performance after guiding Les Bleus into a high-stakes 2026 World Cup quarter-final fixture against Morocco. Photo Credit: Kylian Mbappé/Instagram

Michael Olise (France) Born in London to a Nigerian father and a French-English mother, the Bayern Munich winger has been France’s most creative player at this tournament. He leads the assists chart with five, a figure only Pelé has exceeded in a single World Cup edition since 1966. His teammates have been effusive throughout, with Bradley Barcola saying: “He does everything on the pitch. He works hard defensively and with the ball, he does great passes, brings danger and it’s a real pleasure to play with him.”

Ousmane Dembélé (France) Born in Vernon to a Guinean father and a Mauritanian-Senegalese mother, Dembélé has four goals and four assists at this tournament. His first-half hat-trick against Norway in the group stage was one of the moments of the tournament, and his combination with Mbappé has produced six goals between them, more than any other duo in the competition.

Ousmane Dembele of Malian, Mauritanian, and Senegalese heritage carries Kylian Mbappe on his back while celebrating a French national team goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo Credit: Ousmane Dembele/Instagram

Lamine Yamal (Spain) Born in Barcelona to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, the 17-year-old has arrived at his first World Cup and delivered. He leads the entire competition in dribbles with 17, scored against Saudi Arabia, and has been a constant threat despite managing a hamstring injury throughout. Spain are yet to concede a goal heading into the quarterfinals against Belgium.

Spanish teenage forward Lamine Yamal of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean heritage on the global stage during Spain’s undefeated run to the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals. Photo Credit: Lamine Yamal/Instagram

Bukayo Saka (England) Born in London to Yoruba parents from Nigeria, Saka has been central to everything positive England have produced. His first name translates to “adds to happiness,” which is exactly what he has done, contributing three assists and working tirelessly in England’s dramatic 3-2 Round of 16 victory over Mexico alongside Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. England face Norway in the quarterfinals.

England winger Bukayo Saka, born to Nigerian parents from Isale-Eko, Lagos, sharpens his skills in training ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final fixture against Norway. Photo Credit: Bukayo Saka/Instagram

Jude Bellingham (England) Born in Stourbridge to a father of Jamaican descent, Bellingham has four goals at this tournament and has been brilliant when England have needed him most. His performances in the knockout rounds have been the standout moments of England’s campaign, and his composure and quality in the 3-2 win over Mexico were decisive.

Jude Bellingham of Jamaican descent wearing the white number 10 England shirt while dribbling a football past a Mexico player in a green kit on the pitch. Photo Credit: Jude Bellingham/Instagram

Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) Born in Antwerp to Congolese parents, Lukaku has been Belgium’s match-winning presence off the bench throughout this tournament. His stoppage-time goal against the United States sealed Belgium’s dominant 4-1 Round of 16 victory and confirmed his status as the most reliable finisher in the Belgian squad. He enters the quarterfinals against Spain as the bedrock of Belgium’s attack.

Striker Romelu Lukaku of Congolese descent running on the pitch in celebration during Belgium’s 4-1 victory over the USA at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo Credit: Romelu Lukaku/Instagram

Jérémy Doku (Belgium) Born in Antwerp to Ghanaian parents, Doku has been a recurring problem for opposition full-backs throughout Belgium’s campaign. His electric first step and acceleration can turn any possession into a dangerous opportunity in an instant, and Belgium’s coach has used him judiciously as both a starter and a game-changing substitute. He faces Spain’s defence in the quarterfinals.

Winger Jeremy Doku of Ghanaian heritage sprinting past opponents while tracking the football during a 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout match for Belgium. Photo Credit: Jeremy Doku/Instagram

Amadou Onana (Belgium) Born in Dakar, Senegal, to a Cameroonian father and a Senegalese mother, Onana was a commanding presence in Belgium’s midfield throughout the group stage and into the Round of 16, his physical dominance and defensive positioning acting as the shield for the Belgian backline. His suspected ACL injury, which forced him off during the win over the United States, leaves a significant void that Belgium will need to navigate carefully against Spain.

Amadou Onana of Senegalese and Cameroonian heritage playing in midfield for Belgium during their 4-1 Round of 16 victory over the USA at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo Credit: Amadou Onana/Instagram 

The post From Kylian Mbappé to Bukayo Saka, 9 Footballers of African Heritage Dominating the 2026 FIFA World Cup appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Auburn University sprint prodigy Kanyinsola Ajayi reflects on his historic 100m victory over world champion Oblique Seville. Photo Credit: Kanyinsola Ajayi/Instagram

Nigerian sprinter Kanyinsola Ajayi stunned the athletics world on Saturday 4 July 2026, winning the men’s 100m at the prestigious Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The 21-year-old collegiate breakout star clocked a blistering 9.84 seconds to defeat reigning world champion Oblique Seville, who took second place in 9.89 seconds. Former world champion Christian Coleman finished third in 9.95 seconds, just ahead of Kenneth Bednarek in 9.96 seconds.

The result came on Ajayi’s Diamond League debut, and his winning time of 9.84 seconds is second only to Seville’s season-best 9.82 seconds among the pair this year. Ajayi’s winning time also equalled the Nigerian record of 9.84 seconds that he first set in May at the NCAA East Regional Championships, when he eclipsed Olusoji Fasuba’s long-standing national record of 9.85 seconds that had stood since the Doha Grand Prix in 2006.

Kanyinsola Ajayi crosses the finish line in first place with a time of 9.84 seconds at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic in Oregon. Photo Credit: Kanyinsola Ajayi/Instagram

Despite Seville making the better start from the blocks, Ajayi powered past the Jamaican during the acceleration phase, taking the lead outright at the 30-metre mark and never looking back. Speaking after his landmark win on the global stage, Ajayi said: “I feel good, I’ve been consistent. That was part of my goal—to stay on top of it all, stay consistent, come out here and do what I have to do and just execute my race.”

The 21-year-old, who hails from Ikorodu and attends Auburn University in the United States, has had a remarkable season. He won the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships over 60 metres and the 100 metres at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships, becoming the second Nigerian to win the NCAA 100m title after Divine Oduduru in 2018. The Prefontaine Classic victory is simply the latest statement in what is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for Nigerian sprinting.

Kanyinsola Ajayi celebrates equalling his 9.84-second national record after winning the men’s 100m at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic. Photo Credit: Kanyinsola Ajayi/Instagram

The post 21-Year-Old Kanyinsola Ajayi Beats World Champion to Win 100m at 2026 Prefontaine Classic appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

A female university student stepping out of a dorm. Photo by Keira Burton for Pexels.

I lied to a junior student once when we ran into each other at the market. She told me she had just returned from university for the holidays. Then she asked about me. I told her I was already at 200 Level. I was not. I had not even gained admission into a university yet. I was standing there in that market, three years after finishing secondary school, still at home, still waiting, still trying to understand how my life had managed to pause so completely while everyone else kept moving.

I lied because of the way she asked. She sounded like someone who believed I should have been in school, or even about to finish, due to the gap years between us.

The Years Nobody Counted

When people talk about gap years, they usually mean something they chose. They choose to travel, volunteer, find themselves and a plan for what comes next. Mine was nothing like that.

The three years I spent at home after secondary school were due to financial and family circumstances I couldn’t control. My mates were in lecture halls, stressing over assignments and taking tests. I was at home, watching a version of my life I had planned for myself disappear month by month.

The feeling that stayed with me the longest was shame. I had given myself a timeline. By a certain age, I would be in school. By another, I would be done. None of it worked out that way. According to the plan I made for myself, I should have graduated from university last year. I am still a student.

The other feeling was anger. I was angry at the distance between where I was and where I had expected to be; angry at the way life seemed so straightforward for everyone around me while I stayed in the same place. There were days I wished I had not been born. I said that plainly because it is true. That is where shame and frustration eventually take you.

What I Did With The Time

However, at some point, something shifted in me. I could not control when university would happen, but I could control what I did while I waited. I volunteered to teach English to nursery school pupils for a year. I found a free TEFL course online, enrolled and finished it. I started learning Korean on Coursera because I was curious, and because learning something, anything, felt like evidence that I was still moving even when my circumstances said otherwise. I wrote fictional stories for online platforms. I applied for scholarship after scholarship, most of which rejected me. A few accepted me but could not offer full funding.

Then I found content writing through an online course. That one discovery changed the direction of everything. The skills I was building during those years – how to research, how to write clearly, how to figure things out without anyone guiding me – became the exact foundation I now stand on. I have been published twice in TheCable Nigeria. I have certifications. I have a portfolio and a writing career that is still growing but is genuinely growing. None of it exists without those three years I spent convinced I was falling behind. I am now a Political Science and International Relations student at the University of Abuja.

Life does not move according to your plan. I do not mean that as a motivational quote. I mean I lived inside that truth for three years, and it took everything I had to not let it break me. But here is what I know now: every year is a chance to give yourself another chance. That is harder to believe than it sounds. It took me years of frustration to actually feel it, not just say it.

Skills are also the most portable thing you can build. Circumstances shift. Timelines fall apart. The opportunities that come rarely look like the ones you planned for. But what you know, what you have practised, what you refused to stop building, that goes everywhere with you. I am not where I expected to be at this age. But I am somewhere I built myself, out of years I once thought were wasted. The detour was the education.

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Fatima Zahra Yahaya is a Political Science and International Relations student at the University of Abuja and a freelance content writer.

The post Fatima Zahra Yahaya: How Gaining Admission to University Late Was the Best Thing for My Education appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Debo Adedayo (Mr Macaroni) stars as Lord Fairfax in the historical stage play 55 Days at London’s Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts from 15 to 18 July 2026. Photo Credit: Debo Adedayo/Instagram

Debo Adedayo, better known to millions as Mr Macaroni, is about to step onto a very different kind of stage. The Nigerian comedian, content creator, and activist has announced that he will be performing as Lord Fairfax in “55 Days,” an upcoming production at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, one of the UK’s most respected drama training institutions. The production runs from 15 to 18 July 2026 and is part of Mountview’s postgraduate season, showcasing the talents of the school’s MA Performance cohort.

“55 Days” is a play by celebrated British playwright Howard Brenton, first staged at Hampstead Theatre in 2012 to considerable critical acclaim. The play dramatises the 55 days leading up to the execution of King Charles I in 1649, centring on the political and moral conflict between Oliver Cromwell and the king. It is directed at Mountview by James Yeatman.

Adedayo is currently enrolled in Mountview’s MA Performance programme and is performing alongside his cohort in what is the programme’s flagship production of the season.

Best known for his viral comedy sketches, his outspoken civic activism, and a social media presence that has made him one of Nigeria’s most recognisable voices, he will be taking on the role of Lord Fairfax, the commander-in-chief of the Parliamentary Army and one of the most significant military and political figures of the period depicted in the play.

If you are in London between 15 and 18 July, this is one worth seeing.

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22-year-old Coco Gauff beams with pure joy on Centre Court immediately after sealing her historic comeback win against Jessica Pegula. Photo Credit: Coco Gauff/Instagram 

Coco Gauff has done it. The 22-year-old American seventh seed is into her first ever Wimbledon semi-final after coming from a set down to beat compatriot and fourth seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Centre Court on Tuesday 7 July. It was her fourth consecutive three-set victory at the Wimbledon 2026 Championships, and it came with a major piece of tennis history attached.

With the win, Gauff has now reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, French Open, US Open, and Wimbledon before turning 23, making her the youngest woman to accomplish the feat since Maria Sharapova in 2007. Gauff joins an illustrious group that includes Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin, and Sharapova as only the sixth player since 2000 to reach the women’s singles semi-finals at all four Grand Slams.

Coco Gauff fires a backhand during her three-set comeback victory at the 2026 Championships. Photo Credit: Coco Gauff/Instagram 

The match itself on Centre Court was a study in Gauff’s trademark refusal to be beaten. Pegula started strongly, and Gauff admitted afterwards that her turnaround on grass felt surreal. “It’s pretty insane, considering I hadn’t won a match on grass in two years before this tournament,” Gauff said on court. “I’m definitely really happy with how I played today. Jess is an incredible opponent and person, playing against her is never easy. I’m just happy to get through this one today.”

Coco Gauff celebrates becoming the youngest woman since 2007 to reach all four Grand Slam semi-finals. Photo Credit: Coco Gauff/Instagram 

Pegula was generous in defeat, praising her opponent’s unmatched resilience. “Kudos to her,” she said. “She made me feel uncomfortable. I started off returning really well and put a lot of pressure on her serve right from the beginning. Then it just kind of flipped.” Gauff also spoke about her growing comfort on the tournament’s biggest stage. “After seven years playing this tournament, it’s finally the first time I can walk on Centre Court and I didn’t feel nervous,” she said. “So I don’t know if I’m becoming a vet.”

Coco Gauff striking a powerful running forehand on the grass court during the Wimbledon quarter-finals. Photo Credit: Coco Gauff/Instagram 

Gauff now has her sights set on becoming the second-youngest player and only ninth all-time to win women’s singles Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces: grass, hard, and clay. She faces Czech tenth seed Karolina Muchova—who defeated Naomi Osaka—in the semi-finals, with a coveted place in the Wimbledon women’s singles final on Saturday 11 July on the line.

Coco Gauff celebrates her historic quarter-final victory over Jessica Pegula at Wimbledon 2026 with a vibrant “clock it” gesture. Photo Credit: Coco Gauff/Instagram 

22-year-old Coco Gauff celebrates matching Maria Sharapova’s historic record by securing a spot in the semi-finals. Photo Credit: Coco Gauff/Instagram 

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The 73rd Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity concluded with a profound shift in focus. As the global advertising industry descended upon La Croisette, legacy advertising frameworks shared the spotlight with the architects of the modern digital economy. Capitalising on this transition was Africa’s premier Creator Service Provider, Woof Studios Africa. Led by Founder and Creative Director Adetutu Laditan, alongside a powerhouse lineup of West African creators including Nigerian media icon Tomike Adeoye and Ghanaian sports creator Bernice “Berneese” Boakye Ansah, the agency successfully reframed Africa’s digital narrative on the world stage.

Culture as Infrastructure: Driving a $30 Billion Market

The delegation’s landmark session, “How Africa’s Creators Are Building Culture as Infrastructure,” challenged traditional international perspectives that often limit emerging-market creators to localised virality. Instead, the panel presented a data-backed business case for an African creator economy currently driving an estimated $30 billion within the broader global digital ecosystem.

The core message was clear: African storytellers are no longer operating on the periphery of global platforms. They are constructing the foundational distribution networks, media channels, and consumer trust ecosystems that multinational brands require to achieve scalable market entry on the continent.

As an agency head and tech veteran who spent over a decade at Google shaping YouTube’s growth across Sub-Saharan Africa, Adetutu Laditan anchored the conversation with a corporate perspective on ecosystem engineering. She set the macro business tone for the session:

“For years, African creators have influenced global culture without the infrastructure to capture its true economic value,” Laditan stated. “What is happening in Africa right now isn’t just growth within existing platforms; we are building entirely new systems in real time. Our presence here is proof that we are no longer waiting to be discovered; we are actively establishing the commercial frameworks that will power the next decade of global commerce.”

Following this strategic blueprint, the creators on the panel demonstrated how this infrastructure functions across different consumer verticals:

• Tomike Adeoye (Nigeria): A multi-hyphenate lifestyle creator and celebrated actor, Adeoye unpacked the mechanics of premium brand integration across West Africa. She emphasised deep, community-driven ownership over superficial metrics.”Authentic storytelling is the currency of the future,” Adeoye shared. “When you build genuine connections with your audience, you aren’t just driving a fleeting viral moment; you are establishing a deeply loyal community that translates into sustainable brand equity.“
• Bernice Boakye Ansah – Berneese (Ghana): Commanding a digital footprint of over 5 million followers, the pioneering sports creator detailed how fan-driven storytelling is rewriting the sports media playbook across borders.
  “Sports and digital media in Africa form a universal language,” Ansah noted. “By bringing our sports culture to Cannes, we are demonstrating that fan-driven storytelling has the power to mobilise millions and create unprecedented avenues for global brands to connect with the next generation.“

Commercial Impact Beyond the Stage

The delegation seamlessly translated their presentation into high-level business development, engaging in closed-door B2B networking sessions, international media broadcasts, and corporate partnership discussions with global Chief Marketing Officers.
As Cannes Lions wraps up, the impact of Woof Studios’ presence remains clear. The agency proved that true diversity is not merely about representation at global forums, but about actively setting the economic agenda. For global enterprise brands looking to scale across Africa, Woof Studios has officially provided the blueprint.

Learn more and follow @woofstudiosafrica on social media.

BellaNaija is a Media Partner for Woof Studios

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Defender Yasser Ibrahim celebrates scoring his 15th-minute header past Argentina at Atlanta Stadium. Photo Credit: CAF/Instagram

Oh, what an absolute rollercoaster. If you wanted drama, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Egypt and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium delivered it in abundance. But for fans of the Pharaohs, it ended in the most devastating way possible. Egypt were just eleven minutes away from pulling off one of the greatest upsets in football history. Holding a sensational 2-0 lead against the defending world champions, the quarter-finals were well within touching distance. Then, the Argentine storm hit.

Egypt started the match with brilliant intensity. Just 15 minutes in, Yasser Ibrahim rose highest to plant a magnificent header past Emiliano Martínez, sending Egyptian fans into absolute euphoria. Argentina were handed a lifeline shortly after when they were awarded a penalty.

Up stepped Lionel Messi—but Egypt’s 26-year-old goalkeeper, Mostafa Shobeir, had other ideas. Shobeir guessed correctly, diving brilliantly to deny the legendary number 10 and cementing his place as only the fourth goalkeeper in history to save two penalties in a single World Cup tournament. When Mostafa Ziko doubled Egypt’s lead in the 67th minute with a beautifully finished counter-attack involving Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan, the stadium erupted. It felt like history was written.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi celebrates scoring the crucial 83rd-minute equaliser during the dramatic Round of 16 match. Photo Credit: FIFA/Instagram

But you can never, ever count out Argentina. The defending champions launched a late, relentless onslaught, beginning in the 79th minute when Cristian Romero gave Argentina hope by heading home from a Messi assist. Just four minutes later, cometh the hour, cometh the man. Shrugging off his earlier penalty miss, Lionel Messi fired home a brilliant equaliser to break Egyptian hearts. Then, with extra time looming in the 92nd minute, Enzo Fernández scored a stunning header to complete the turnaround. Remarkably, his match-winning strike was the 3,000th goal in World Cup history.

Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir reacts after saving a penalty kick from Lionel Messi in the Round of 16. Photo Credit: CAF/Instagram

While Egypt are bowing out in the Round of 16, Hossam Hassan’s squad can leave the United States with their heads held incredibly high. They pushed the world champions to the absolute limit and gave us an all-time tournament classic. Mostafa Shobeir’s heroics mean he joins an elite club of shot-stoppers—including Jan Tomaszewski, Brad Friedel, and Wojciech Szczęsny—to save two spot-kicks in a single World Cup finals. Argentina now advance to the quarter-finals, where they will await the winners of the Switzerland vs Colombia tie.

Mostafa Ziko celebrates doubling the Pharaohs’ lead against Argentina during their thrilling encounter. Photo Credit: CAF/Instagram

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Nigerian secondary students Chimdiebube Onwubiko and Don Anele Munachimso celebrate their global mathematics and science gold medals on stage.

They went to Rome, they competed against 154 countries, and they came home with gold. All three Nigerian students representing the country at the 2026 International STEM Olympiad in Rome have won gold medals, and the results are even more remarkable than anyone anticipated.

Chimdiebube Onwubiko, the best mathematician in Nigeria at the junior secondary level, won gold in mathematics. Don Anele Munachimso Marvelous, already Nigeria’s best IGCSE Chemistry student, went one better and took gold in both mathematics and science, making him the best in the world in science at this competition. And Egejurum Onyedikachi Ethan, who is just 11 years old and currently in Primary 6, won gold in the primary mathematics category, making him the best primary school mathematician in the world at the 2026 International STEM Olympiad.

Nigerian secondary students Chimdiebube Onwubiko and Don Anele Munachimso celebrate their global mathematics and science gold medals on stage.

Their sponsor Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare, who funded the entire trip and travelled to Rome with the students and their teachers, broke the news on X with barely contained pride. “The wait is over. We have 2 golds: Chimdiebube Onwubiko and Don Anele Munachimso. We are the best in the world!” he wrote, before following up with more good news about Egejurum Onyedikachi, whose name had initially been omitted from the results. “Onyedikachi Egejurum got a Gold. He is the best in Mathematics in the world Primary Category. This is the beginning of greatness for the country.”

There was also a touching surprise at the award ceremony in Rome: Egejurum Onyedikachi’s mother had quietly made her way to Rome to watch her son receive his gold medal in person.

Primary school world champion Egejurum Onyedikachi Ethan displays his gold medal at the International STEM Olympiad award finals.

The three students had spent months preparing for the competition before travelling to Rome, where they also found time to enjoy a boat ride with peers from other countries and a visit to Cinecittà World Aqua World amusement park.

Onyia, who has made it his mission to push Nigeria’s brightest young minds onto global stages, reflected on the bigger picture. “In 10 years, I pray you will be alive to see what this generation of our children will become through our sustained effort. They will be greater than we have ever been.”

Primary school mathematics world champion Egejurum Onyedikachi Ethan joined by his mother at the 2026 award finals.

Sponsor Alex Onyia poses with the three Nigerian gold medalists at the 2026 International STEM Olympiad grand final venue.

Global science gold medalist Don Anele Munachimso celebrates his historic victory at the 2026 International STEM Olympiad.

Nigerian mathematics and science teachers Chisom Unachukwu and Anthony Iwegbu at the global academic event in Rome.

Photo Credit: Alex Onyia/X

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When you reach for a cold drink without thinking twice, it’s usually because it’s been part of your life for as long as you can remember. That kind of muscle memory doesn’t happen by chance. It’s built over time over 75 years of showing up as the answer to every “What are you drinking?” moment.

From your family’s Christmas table, to the bukka down the road, to the party that gave you memories you wouldn’t trade for the world… and even those quiet days when an ice-cold Coca-Cola just hits differently.

For 75 years, Coca-Cola has been refreshing Nigeria. And the brand still knows exactly what Nigerians want: more of the good stuff, and more value when it matters most.

To celebrate this milestone, Coca-Cola introduces a specially designed 60cl PET anniversary pack, giving you an extra 10cl on your regular 50cl drink 20% more value, simply because it’s our birthday, and we’re sharing the love.

The limited-edition Coca-Cola Less Sugar PET bottles wear Nigeria proudly, wrapped in our flag colours around the refreshing taste we all love. This extra value is also available exclusively across Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta, and Sprite in the 60cl anniversary packs.

As a toast to the Nigerian spirit and a journey built together Coca-Cola invites Nigerians everywhere to raise a bottle and celebrate. E Don Tey, but We Still Dey.

Whether you, Want a Fanta, need a Sprite for the heat, or you’ve gone all in on Coca-Cola Less Sugar or Zero Sugar, everyone gets more for the celebration. Even your faves:@soft_ajebota and @alliyah_mm

 

 

 

 

 

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Make every moment count with the new 60cl anniversary packs, available now at major retailers nationwide.  

For more information, visit www.coca-cola.com/ng/en or follow on Instagram or X for more Coca-Cola offers and experiences.

Sponsored Content

The post More Value, Same Great Taste: Coca-Cola Introduces New Designs on 60cl PET Bottles to Celebrate 75 Years with Nigerians appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Sometimes, you ask yourself, how did Aliko Dangote and Tony Elumelu become so rich? How did they build businesses and scale to reach millions of people? To answer these questions, James Dumoulin, the founder of the financial literacy company School of Hard Knocks, came to Nigeria to interview them. James has interviewed some of the richest people on the planet and has travelled to several countries in the world to interview millionaires and billionaires. He was in Nigeria a while back to interview Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu and other billionaires in the country.

Here are some of the interviews below:

Aliko Dangote

 

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Tony Elumelu

 

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Kola Karim

 

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Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhode

 

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What do you think is the secret to becoming a billionaire from Nigeria? What have you learned from watching these videos, if you learned anything?

The post How Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu and Others Become Billionaires appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

As digital payments become part of everyday life, keeping money safe has never been more important. To help customers stay protected, OPay introduced two new security features: Emergency Lock and Safety PIN. These features are designed to help users take immediate action when they sense danger, thereby preventing fraud, theft, and unauthorized transactions before they occur.

Here are six reasons why these new features matter.

1. They Help Stop Fraud Before It Happens
Many security solutions focus on recovering funds after fraud has occurred. Emergency Lock and Safety PIN take a different approach by helping customers act before money leaves their account. This proactive protection gives users a better chance of preventing financial losses.

2. Instant Account Protection During Emergencies
With Emergency Lock, customers can freeze their OPay account with just one tap whenever they feel their account may be at risk. Whether it’s a lost phone, suspicious activity, or an unexpected security concern, the account is immediately protected, stopping all outgoing transactions within the freeze period.

3. Extra Protection in High-Risk Situations
The Safety PIN is designed for situations where a customer may be under pressure or forced to complete a transaction. Instead of raising suspicion or arguing with the attacker, the customer should enter their Safety PIN. This provides an additional layer of personal and financial protection during difficult situations.

4. Greater Confidence When Using Digital Payments
Knowing that tools are available to respond instantly during security emergencies gives customers greater confidence to conduct everyday transactions. Whether sending money, paying bills, or shopping online, users can enjoy digital payments with added peace of mind.

5. Security Designed Around Real-Life Challenges
Phone theft, robbery, account compromise, and forced transfers remain real concerns for many Nigerians. Emergency Lock and Safety PIN were developed to address these everyday risks, providing practical solutions that reflect how customers live, work, and transact.

6. A Stronger Commitment to Customer Safety
The introduction of Emergency Lock and Safety PIN reflects OPay’s continued investment in security innovation and customer protection. By combining convenience with advanced security, OPay is helping build a safer digital financial ecosystem where customers have greater control over their money whenever they need it most.

Protecting More Than Money

Security is about more than preventing fraud; it is about giving people confidence, control, and peace of mind. With Emergency Lock and Safety PIN, OPay is empowering tens of millions of Nigerians with practical tools that help them stay protected in unexpected situations. As digital payments continue to grow, innovations like these demonstrate OPay’s commitment to making financial services not only faster and more convenient but also safer for everyone.

Sponsored Content

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Drivers’ Championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu holding his first-place board after securing his second win of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season. Photo Credit: Ugo Ugochukwu/Instagram

Ugo Ugochukwu is making this FIA Formula 3 season look very straightforward, and the numbers back that up. The Nigerian-American Campos Racing driver won the Silverstone Sprint Race on Saturday 4 July by 17.023 seconds, the largest winning margin in the current iteration of FIA Formula 3, exceeding the previous record by 3.552 seconds. It was his second victory of the 2026 season, making him the first driver to win twice this year.

Starting from pole, Ugochukwu led every single lap of the 18-lap race at the 5.891-kilometre Silverstone circuit, also claiming the additional point for fastest lap. Early on, AIX Racing’s Yevan David applied pressure from directly behind, remaining within DRS range in the opening laps. But as Ugochukwu managed his tyres carefully in the early stages, the gap steadily grew, and by the halfway point the race up front was effectively over. Behind Ugochukwu, there was plenty of drama. David held on to claim second, becoming the first Sri Lankan driver to stand on the Formula 3 podium, while Campos teammate Théophile Nael grabbed third with a last-corner overtake on TRIDENT’s Matteo De Palo.

Campos Racing driver Ugo Ugochukwu celebrates his historic, record-breaking sprint race victory at the 2026 Silverstone circuit. Photo Credit: Ugo Ugochukwu/Instagram

Speaking after the race, Ugochukwu was clearly pleased with how his afternoon had gone. “I’m super happy, second win of the season, but most of all the pace was amazing. Really good second and last part of the race, we managed to pull a big gap, so that fills us with confidence for tomorrow, so I am sure we can come through the field and score some more good points tomorrow,” he said. He also detailed how he managed the race from the front. “At the beginning of the race, Yevan was quite a bit closer. He was just about in my DRS, so I was trying to manage that as best as possible. The gap increased and obviously made my race a lot easier, but I still had to focus, make sure I wasn’t using too much of my tyres, just in case someone came strong at the end. After a certain point, I knew I just had to bring it home.”

Nigerian-American racing driver Ugo Ugochukwu in his official FIA Formula 3 championship racing gear. Photo Credit: Ugo Ugochukwu/Instagram

Ugochukwu now leads the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ Championship on 89 points, with Freddie Slater second on 66. Born in New York City to Nigerian supermodel Oluchi Onweagba and Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi, Ugochukwu has been one of motorsport’s most watched young talents for several years. He was part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme from 2021 to 2025, became the first American winner of the Macau Grand Prix in 43 years in 2024, and tested a Formula One car for the first time in June 2026, driving the Alpine A524 during a private session in Monza.

Watch highlights of the race below

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