MC Lively Condemns Tribal Comments After Nigerian Students’ Global STEM Victory

/by

Nigerian comedian and actor MC Lively has criticized attempts by some social media users to introduce ethnic sentiments into the celebration of three Nigerian students who recently won gold medals at the International STEM Olympiad Grand Finale in Rome, Italy.

The students—Chimdiebube Onwubiko, Don Anele Munachimso, and Onyedikachi Egejurum—earned international recognition after emerging among the top performers in Mathematics and Science at the global competition.

While many Nigerians celebrated the achievement as a national success, some online comments sought to frame the students’ victories along ethnic lines, sparking widespread criticism.

Reacting to the development, MC Lively urged Nigerians to avoid tribalising academic excellence, stressing that achievements by young Nigerians should unite the country rather than create unnecessary divisions.

Read also: Three Nigerian Students Win Gold at International STEM Olympiad in Rome

His remarks received support from many social media users, who described the students’ accomplishments as victories for the entire nation regardless of ethnicity, religion or region.

The online debate also renewed discussions about the need to celebrate excellence and encourage academic achievement instead of allowing divisive narratives to overshadow positive national stories.

Many commentators called for greater investment in education, mentorship and youth development, arguing that the success recorded by the students demonstrates Nigeria’s ability to produce world-class talents when young people receive the necessary support.

The students’ victories continue to attract praise across the country, with many expressing hope that their achievement will inspire more Nigerian youths to pursue excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while promoting national unity.

Burna Boy Hits Massive 644 Million Monthly YouTube Music Mileston

/by

Grammy-winning singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has garnered 644 million monthly audience on YouTube Music making him the highest-ranked Nigerian artist on the platform.

The latest YouTube Music rankings viewed on Tuesday show Burna Boy currently has 6.41 million subscribers.

He is ahead of other top Nigerian acts like Asake with 2.06 million subscribers and 11.6 million monthly audience, Wizkid with 3.67 million subscribers and 24.2 million monthly audience, Davido with 5.04 million subscribers and 25.4 million monthly audience, and Seyi Vibez with 500,001 subscribers and 3.28 million monthly audience.

Damini Ogulu, a Grammy award-winning singer, popularly known as Burna Boy, has recorded 644 million monthly audience on YouTube Music, making him the highest ranked Nigerian artist on the platform. Rema, Omah Lay, and BNX are other artists in the platform’s top 10.

Burna Boy has 6.41 million subscribers at the moment, according to the latest YouTube Music rankings seen on Tuesday.

He is ahead of other top Nigerian acts including Asake with 2.06 million subscribers and 11.6 million monthly audience, Wizkid with 3.67 million subscribers and 24.2 million monthly audience, Davido with 5.04 million subscribers and 25.4 million monthly audience and Seyi Vibez with 500,001 subscribers and 3.28 million monthly audience.

The other artists in the platform’s top 10 are Rema with 5.55 million subscribers, Omah Lay, 2.78 million subscribers, BNXN, 506,000 subscribers, Young Jonn, 458,000 subscribers and Odumodublvck, 310,000.

The YouTube milestone adds to Burna Boy’s impressive run on global streaming platforms.

Weeks after the African Giant became the African artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify after hitting 46.84 million to break the record of 46.58 million held by South African star Tyla.N with 506,000 subscribers, Young Jonn with 458,000 subscribers and Odumodublvck with 310,000 subscribers.

The YouTube milestone is part of Burna Boy’s strong run on global streaming platforms.

This comes just weeks after the African Giant became the African artiste with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, hitting 46.84 million to shatter the previous record of 46.58 million held by South African star Tyla.

Three Nigerian Students Win Gold at International STEM Olympiad in Rome

/by

Three Nigerian students have brought pride to the country after winning gold medals at the International STEM Olympiad Grand Finale held in Rome, Italy.

The students—Chimdiebube Onwubiko, Don Anele Munachimso, and Onyedikachi Egejurum—distinguished themselves in Mathematics and Science at the prestigious competition, which attracted participants from more than 150 countries.

Their journey to the global stage began after outstanding performances at the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad, where they secured qualification for the international contest. Their participation in the Rome finale was sponsored by education advocate and Chief Executive Officer of Educare, Alex Onyia.

Announcing the achievement on his X account, Onyia initially celebrated the gold medal victories of Chimdiebube Onwubiko and Don Anele Munachimso before revealing that Don Anele also clinched another gold medal in Science. He later announced that Onyedikachi Egejurum emerged as the world’s best in Mathematics in the Primary Category after securing another gold medal.

Describing the achievement as a major milestone for Nigeria, Onyia said the investment in the students had paid off, expressing confidence that their success marked the beginning of greater accomplishments for the country.
Read Also: Burna Boy Sets New African Record With 50 Million Monthly Spotify Listeners

The victories have attracted widespread commendation from Nigerians, with many praising the students for showcasing the country’s academic potential on the global stage. Others also applauded Onyia for supporting young talents and providing them with the opportunity to compete internationally.

Education stakeholders say the achievement highlights the importance of sustained investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, noting that Nigerian students can compete with the best in the world when provided with adequate support and opportunities.

The students’ outstanding performance has been celebrated as another testament to the abundance of young talents in Nigeria and the country’s growing reputation in international academic competitions.

Actress Uche Ogbodo Confirms Split From Husband Bobby Maris

/by

I Am Tired of the Princess Wey Dey Marry Me’ – Uche Ogbodo Confirms Split from Husband Bobby Maris After Eight Years

Nollywood actress Uche Ogbodo has confirmed the end of her marriage to her husband, Bobby Maris, saying she is “tired” after spending eight years in the relationship and now wants to prioritize her happiness.

Her confirmation comes days after speculation about trouble in their marriage intensified when the couple unfollowed each other on Instagram. Bobby Maris also fueled the rumours after sharing a cryptic post about marriage on his Instagram page.

Breaking her silence, the mother of three took to her Instagram Story to express her frustration, stating that she deserved to be happy and questioning why society often criticizes women who choose to leave unhappy marriages.

“Now nah taboo for person to tire for marriage because nah woman? Must it be always man must taya? Tayad is my tayad! I am sick of the Princess that is marrying me. What’s wrong with that? But to be happy as a woman in marriage by connection in this country!

“I do not sin again no?

“I be rubber oo so make no man push me to the wall!

“8 years of my life is not enough yet? Maybe I should wait 20 years, or maybe 6 feet under, before the crown of thorns will fit me well.”

The actress also called out bloggers over what she described as inaccurate reports about her relationship, urging them to verify information before publishing stories.

“Look at all these bloggers, collecting receipts ooo!

“Do not spread misinformation.

“Request receipts.

“Because I come straight with receipts.

“I’m not like my predecessors o!”

Her announcement followed a cryptic message shared by Bobby Maris on Instagram, where he wrote:

“Not every head is for the crown wife.”

The couple’s decision to unfollow each other on Instagram had already sparked widespread speculation that their marriage was in crisis.

Just a day before confirming the separation, Uche Ogbodo posted a video of herself on Instagram with the caption, “Water water Yansh,” a post that many followers interpreted as an indication that things were no longer going smoothly in her marriage.

Although neither Uche Ogbodo nor Bobby Maris has publicly disclosed the exact reason for their separation, the actress’ recent statements have confirmed that the couple has officially gone their separate ways after eight years together.

Portable Declares, ‘I Am Bigger Than Michael Jackson,’ Sparks Online Reactions

/by

Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, widely recognized as Portable, has ignited social media debate by drawing comparisons between his achievements and those of the iconic American entertainer Michael Jackson.

The controversial artiste boldly stated that he is “bigger than everything,” claiming his achievements put him ahead of the late King of Pop during a recent appearance on the Honest Bunch podcast.

Portable defended himself by saying he was involved in boxing promotion and asked if Michael Jackson ever got involved in the sport or promoted boxing events or did business deals involving it.

Since then, the singer’s comment has generated reactions from many Nigerians who have expressed varied opinions about his boldness and confidence.

His words…

“I’m Michael Jackson,” he said. Did michael jackson fight. Did he push boxing? Did he get the contract? No, no, don’t say that. I’m bigger than anything.”

See post below:

Here are some comments below:
@TA: “I understand hyping yourself up. But compare it critically. 💀” @olawale:”If you dey listen to this one, you go just dey dull”BAÀLE🤪😂:”Fenu wu gate

‘Don’t Marry A Man You’re Financially Supporting’ — Nkechi Blessing

/by

Nollywood actress, Nkechi Blessing Sunday has stirred social media as she shared her views on relationships, especially women who bear the burden of financially supporting their men.African News Aggregator

She cautioned women against marrying men they are “obviously supporting,” saying that such relationships may be challenged in the long run, even if they try to hide the truth.

Women shouldn’t ignore financial imbalance in a relationship or assume that hiding their partner’s dependence will lead to a successful marriage, according to Nkechi Blessing.

And don’t ever think that marrying a man that you’re obviously feeding will last, no matter how much you try to cover it up,” she said.

Her comment has drawn mixed reactions from social media users, with some agreeing that financial responsibility and independence can play an important role in maintaining a healthy partnership, while others argued that couples should be allowed to support each other in difficult seasons.
See some comments below:

@GistRadar:”So carrying the work load how you feel am 😂. E funny oo. That also what most men feel, when they marry a woman that they clearly feeding, she come still dey lazy on top still even get pride. “This is only the tip of an iceberg”

@_zoey_: “So basically if I pay the rent alone, I’m the one who’s also getting the eviction notice.”

@PROSPER KWASI ESSIAW FRIMPONG:”That’s why men will never take help from women …”

@ifedayo: A man is like a scripture you break. The Bible said clearly that men were to be the provider. “Why do we get guilt tripped by society for following the bible instructions?”

The actress’ comment comes amid ongoing conversations about modern relationships, gender roles and what men and women should be doing when it comes to providing for their families.

Burna Boy Sets New African Record With 50 Million Monthly Spotify Listeners

/by

Nigerian singer Burna Boy has become the first African artiste to cross 50 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

The milestone was reached on Monday, setting a new record for an African artiste on the music streaming platform.

The feat was helped by the success of Burna Boy’s collaboration with Shakira on the song Dai Dai, which has topped Spotify’s Global Top Songs chart for several days.
The tune continues to break records on streaming platforms, with Shakira recently becoming the second Latino artist to reach 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify for the first time in her career, after Bad Bunny, amid the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

In 2026, “Dai Dai” also made history by becoming the first music video to reach 300 million views on YouTube.

Nollywood Actor Ricardo Agbor Welcomes Twins After 18 Years

/by

Veteran Nollywood actor Ricardo Agbor has revealed his 18 year journey to parenthood, as he and his wife waited almost two decades before welcoming their twins.

During a recent interview, the actor spoke about his marriage, faith, and the struggles he and his wife went through before welcoming children.

Agbor said that throughout the long wait he never wavered in his commitment to his wife and never allowed the delay in starting a family to affect their relationship.
“I wanted to marry a particular lady; I married her irrespective of where she comes from. She’s not one of my people. “Normally we should have had strife, no, it was very fair,” he said.

He shared about the couple’s struggle with infertility and how he specifically prayed for twins and refused to give up hope, even after waiting for 18 years.

“It took me 18 years to have the twins. And I waited. God knows I was 18 years old and they’re 14 now, I told God I wanted twins.

“So in that wait, if it was someone else, he would cross. Bottom line is I have twins. I have a son and a daughter. “I asked God for what I wanted,” he said.

Agbor also spoke about what he described as the most painful experience of his life, the death of his mother.

She had been in treatment for about three weeks without improvement, before doctors recommended that she should be flown to South Africa for further medical attention, he said.

He said his mother had asked to be taken to another private hospital in Surulere but had died in his arms while he was helping her into the car.

“My mother died in my arms. They were bringing almost 10 doctors to the hospital to do tests… the sickness was not improving after almost three weeks.

“After three weeks they said come and carry my mom and take her to South Africa. I took my mother and moved her to another private hospital in Surulere. My mom told me to get her away from there. “She quit,” he said. “She went into the car with her.

The loss devastated him, Agbor said, adding that it was the first time he’d cried outside of acting.

“I think that was the first time I ever cried in my life. I never cry. If I cry, it might be in a movie, it might be a role. So I wept. It was a painful thing,” he said.

Mercy Eke Opens Up On Why She Chose To Undergo BBL

/by

BBNaija star Mercy Eke has opened up on the reason she decided to go for the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), stating she was under peer pressure at that time.

Mercy, who won Big Brother Naija season 4, said in an interview with Korty EO that she already had a beautiful body and that the procedure was painful but she is happy with the outcome.

The reality star also said she’s comfortable in her own skin.

“At the time it was just the trend, maybe peer pressure cause I’ve got a beautiful body.

“I was really scared. I didn’t tell my mum because I didn’t want anybody to put me off. Me and my two other friends we planned it together and we did it at the same time.

“You get to have your massage after the surgery and I think that is the painful part and the fact that you won’t sleep with your butt for 14 days.

You have to lay on your stomach then when you wake up from the surgery it hurts, you cry for three days….Now it’s soft,” Mercy said.

Afrophobia: A Growing Threat To African Unity

/by

The forced eviction and persecution of black African migrants in South Africa is one of the most disturbing problems facing the African continent today. Some countries, such as Nigeria, have started to evacuate their nationals from the former apartheid enclave after self-styled South African vigilantes issued a notice on June 30 for black African migrants to leave.

This latest reprehensible development comes after previous waves of such attacks in 1994, 2008, 2015, 2019, 2021-2022 and 2025-2026 during which black African migrants and their businesses were targeted with deaths, injuries and destruction of livelihoods. Much of the violence has been driven by economic frustration, with some South Africans blaming fellow Africans for unemployment and other socio-economic problems instead of addressing the structural causes of their country’s problems.

Several Africans were killed even before the deadline for eviction, and many others lived under the constant threat of violence, taking refuge in embassies and other safe locations until evacuation.

On the appointed day, thousands of youths armed with clubs and other crude weapons marched through the streets of several South African cities chanting anti-immigrant slogans and making threats. ” In their rage they made no distinction between documented and undocumented migrants.

Consequently, Nigerian returnees have been returning home, recounting heartbreaking stories of businesses abandoned, investments lost and dreams shattered as they fled the so-called Rainbow Nation.

The South African government’s reaction has been disappointing. By not taking decisive action to rein in identifiable vigilante leaders who are making open threats against fellow Africans, the government has created the impression of complicity through inaction. It is difficult to understand how President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration could ignore such clear threats to lives and property.

This attitude is especially disturbing considering Nigeria’s huge contribution to the liberation of South Africa from apartheid. Research by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) estimates Nigeria provided some $61 billion between 1960 and 1995 in direct financial assistance, institutional support and significant economic sacrifices in the fight against white minority rule.

Much of that support came in the form of economic measures. Nigeria had long kept an oil embargo on the apartheid regime, which reportedly cost it $41 billion in lost potential oil revenue. Also in 1979, the British Petroleum (BP) and Barclays Bank assets were nationalised in protest against the continuing economic links between the United Kingdom and apartheid South Africa.

Nigeria also demonstrated its solidarity through the Southern Africa Relief Fund (SARF), commonly known as the “Mandela Tax.”

Besides government funding, civil servants, students and ordinary Nigerians contributed millions of dollars to the anti-apartheid struggle. Nigeria also gave annual financial support to liberation movements like the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and provided scholarships, free education and even Nigerian passports to South African exiles.

Nigeria took the diplomatic lead in the campaign against apartheid, spearheading the effort at the international level, chairing the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid and mobilising support for sanctions and sporting boycotts which helped isolate the apartheid regime.

It is therefore deeply ironic that a country that has gained so much from African solidarity now stands idly by while fellow Africans are demonised, attacked and driven from their homes. This is not only ingratitude, it is a betrayal of the very ideals on which post-apartheid South Africa was built.

Migration is a human thing. It is not a crime to live and work legally in another country. South Africans themselves live and thrive in many countries across Africa and elsewhere without experiencing such organised hostility. If the South African government continues on this path, it risks isolating itself from the rest of the continent and undermining the spirit of African unity.

Equally troubling is the muted reaction of the African Union (AU). The continental body is advocating economic integration and free movement under the African Continental Free Trade Area and cannot afford to keep quiet when one of its leading members is ignoring these principles. The AU should unequivocally condemn the attacks, call on the South African government to take responsibility for protecting all lawful residents and consider appropriate measures to dissuade similar conduct elsewhere in the continent.

We commend the Nigerian government for announcing its intention to seek compensation for businesses and property destroyed or abandoned by Nigerian victims. The Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, said the government is already compiling records of businesses and properties affected. He also confirmed that the overwhelming majority of Nigerians in South Africa are lawful residents who entered the country through legitimate immigration channels. Nigeria must also, besides investments, demand heavy compensation for the lives lost in this madness.

But the government must focus on rehabilitation, in addition to demanding reparations. The federal government and states should work together to provide returnees with financial support, skills assistance and other reintegration programs that would help them rebuild their lives. In this regard, Edo State deserves commendation for the prompt dispatch of a high level delegation to receive its returning citizens at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and begin arrangements for their reintegration. Other state governments should learn from this, instead of shirking the entire responsibility to the federal government or abandoning their indigenes to their fate.

The unfolding tragedy in South Africa must remind us that African unity must be defended not only in oratory, but by concrete action. The debt of morality which South Africa owes Africa and Nigeria in particular, cannot be repaid with hatred, violence and persecution.