Broadcasting
Brenda, Sther Eliminated From Nigerian Idol 5
The simmering heat of the on-going Nigeria Idol season five is beginning to be felt by the contestants on parade following the elimination of Brenda and Sther from the TV Reality Show at the weekend.
Nigerian Idol presenter, Illrymz, announced their eviction from the Show during the elimination show at the weekend.
On a night that would produce two evictees from the seven contestants, the atmosphere at the OMG’s Dream Studios was visibly a mix of tension, fear, disappointment and uncertainties.
The contestants, standing before the judges and uncertain of what awaited them, clutched their fists, with some only able to stare at the comfortless roof while others attempted to mask their emotions by keeping a straight face.
Show anchor, Illrhmz, was not going to offer some respite either, but rather opted to play up the Show’s themed suspense and further unsettle the contestants.
He had called up the trio of Sther, Dolu and K-Peace to the eviction corner, but just as the audience and judges awaited the first evictee of the night, he ordered them to rejoin the rest. Not done yet, he took his turn with the quartet of Preye, Nex2, Classic Tunez and Brenda, repeating the same script.
The waiting however, was soon over as he called out K-Peace, Dolu, Preye and Sther and told the audience that Sther would be leaving the show having polled the least number of votes.
With three spots in the top 5 already taken by Dolu, Preye and K-Peace, the race for the last two was narrowed down to the trio of Brenda, Classic Tunez and Nex2.
Brenda was eventually evicted after polling the second least number of votes; it was a contrasting situation to the previous week’s results during which she polled the highest number votes.
Until their eviction, Brenda and Sther were two of the Show’s three best stage performers alongside K-Peace with very impressive showings posted week in, week out.
For Brenda, her participation in similar TV reality programmes in the past offered her a huge wealth of experience as well as added pressure.
While she brought the experience to bear on her performances on the Show, she was constantly under pressure to make a statement.
“I did not foresee this coming. I had a lot of people I wanted to prove a point to, but that has been cut short. It is just painful, but I am not disappointed,” Brenda said.
The eviction, the third for Sther, put paid to her spectacular run on the show. She had previously been evicted during the Group Stage and Top 9, but returned on each occasion following the application of the Judges’ Wild Card and Lifeline intervention measures.
With the eviction of Brenda and Sther, the five remaining contestants in contention for the Show’s first prize include Ogunmoyero Modolowamu (Dolu), Oyinkepreye Deborah Toun (Preye), Godson Goodluck (Classic Tunez), Ogunrombi Kunle (K-Peace) and Ese-Amadasun Imuetiyan (Nex2).
Nigerian Idol season 5 is sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria, Payporte, Cool Fm, Tantalizers, Cadbury Nigeria, Zaron, Dabur Toothpaste, So-Klin, ORS and Ellis Suites.
Nigerian Idol season 5 is aired on Saturdays and Sundays on the following terrestrial and satellite TV Stations: NTA National (2.30–3pm on Saturdays and 4.30-6 pm on Sundays), STV (both DSTV and Terrestrial, 9.30-10pm/Sat &8.30-10pm/Sun), TVC (8.8.30PM/Sat & 7-8.30pm/Sun), Hip TV on DSTV(4-4.30pm/ Sat & 4-5.30pm/Sun), Superscreen (8-8.30pm/ Sat & 9-10.30pm/Sun ) and Smash Tv (8-8.30pm/Sat. & 8-9.30pm/Sunday on CONSAT).
Others stations on Startimes are WAP Tv (9-9.30pm/Sat & 9-10.30pm/Sun), AMC (7-7.30pm/Sat & 7-8.30pm/Sun), Rave Tv (7pm), Cool Tv (7.30-8pm/Sat & 9-10.30pm), Wazobia Tv (7.05-7.30pm/Sat & 8.30-10pm/Sun), Real Star Tv (10-10.30pm/Sat & 9-10.30pm/Sun) and Planet TV on GoTV (10-10.30pm/Sat & 9-10.30pm/Sun).
Nigerian Idol focuses on discovering Nigerian youths with talent in music and giving them a unique platform to take shots at stardom.
The eventual winner goes home with N7.5 million cash reward, a brand new car, a recording deal worth N7.5 million with Universal Music label and some high-end devices.
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Broadcasting
Obi, NDC Presidential Candidate Faces N50Bn Defamation Claim over Alleged Podcast Remark
Abayomi Arabambi, national vice chairman (South-West) of the Labour Party, has demanded a public apology, a retraction, and N50 billion in damages from Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over an alleged defamatory statement made during a podcast interview.
The demand was contained in a letter issued by the law firm Neplus Ultra Attorneys and signed by Anderson U. Asemota, Peter O. Asimegbe, and Stanley C. Eziefulle on behalf of Arabambi.
According to the letter, the legal dispute arose from comments allegedly made by Obi during the interview, where he reportedly stated that Arabambi “does not have an address.”
Arabambi’s legal team described the statement as false, malicious, and defamatory, arguing that it portrayed their client as a faceless individual without legitimacy, credibility, or standing in public life.
The lawyers further claimed that the interview was widely circulated on television stations and digital platforms, exposing Arabambi to public ridicule and damaging his reputation.
“Our client has had a known residential and business address, maintains professional and political affiliations within Nigeria, and has never been a person whose whereabouts or identity were unknown,” the letter stated.
The legal team maintained that the alleged publication caused embarrassment and harmed Arabambi’s public image and political standing.
As part of their demands, the lawyers called for an unreserved public apology to be aired on national television, published on Obi’s verified social media platforms, and carried as full-page apologies in national newspapers.
They also demanded the payment of N50 billion as compensation for the alleged injury to Arabambi’s reputation, dignity, political standing, and public image.
Broadcasting
Why We’re Partnering With NIHOTOUR To Bring Nigerians In South Africa Home – Steve Babaeko
When Nigerians began arriving back home on emergency flights following an ultimatum from anti-migrant groups in South Africa, Steve Babaeko, alongside The Nigerian Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), saw an opportunity to step up for his fellow citizens.
Steve Babaeko
The CEO of X3M Ideas explains that he saw a deep obligation, one that had nothing to do with advertising and everything to do with hospitality. For Babaeko, it was a reminder that an agency owes a duty of care to the community it exists within.
That conviction shaped the creative agency’s partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) for the newly launched ‘Welcome Home’ pilot programme at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. Rather than simply crafting a messaging campaign around the crisis, X3M Ideas helped design a tangible, physical system.
“This wasn’t built as a campaign about a crisis,” Babaeko said. “It was a hospitality agency deciding what it owes its own citizens the moment they land.”
For Babaeko, what X3M has built is infrastructure, something returnees can physically walk through, use, and benefit from the instant they clear the arrival gate.
With the MMIA pilot now officially running, NIHOTOUR directs returnees to immediate support services and issues them a Returnee Card. This card grants individuals a free first night at partner hotels, immediate transport assistance from the airport, and fast-tracked business registration support.
Furthermore, the initiative features a dedicated Restart Desk to assist returnee entrepreneurs and tradespeople with job placement referrals and business registration. This operates alongside a public Homecoming counter that tracks the cumulative number of returnees welcomed, businesses restarted, and jobs facilitated.
Spotify has announced a partnership with Afro Nation Portugal as the festival’s official sponsor and exclusive streaming partner for the 2026 edition, in a move aimed at bringing African music and festival experiences to a wider global audience.
The collaboration will provide fans with a dedicated Afro Nation destination on Spotify, featuring official festival playlists, participating artists and selected performance videos after the event.
The 2026 edition of Afro Nation Portugal is scheduled to hold from July 3 to July 5 in Portimão, Portugal.
Spotify said the partnership would enable fans to engage with the festival before, during and after the live event, regardless of their location.
The streaming platform noted that the initiative aligns with its continued investment in promoting African music and supporting its growing international audience.
Speaking on the partnership, Spotify’s Content Marketing Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Rifumo Mdaka, described Afro Nation as a global showcase for African music and culture.
“Afro Nation is more than a festival; it is a global expression of African music, fan culture and creative influence.
“Our partnership is about helping that moment travel further through our first collaboration with Afro Nation of this nature.
“By bringing the festival to Spotify, we are giving fans a place to connect with the artists, performances and stories that define the festival long after the final set,” he said.
According to Spotify, the collaboration will also include exclusive festival content, artist discovery features, curated playlists and fan-focused storytelling.
The company said it would document the journey of a selected fan travelling to the festival as part of efforts to showcase the growing global appeal of African music.
Also speaking, Director of Global Partnerships at The Malachite Group and Afro Nation, Ms Clémence Blum, said the partnership represented a major step in expanding the festival’s global reach.
“Afro Nation has always been more than a festival. It is a platform built to celebrate African music, support artist breakthroughs and connect a global community through culture.
“Our partnership with Spotify reflects the shared role we both play in helping artists reach new audiences and giving fans deeper ways to engage with the music they love,” she said.
Spotify said selected live performances from the festival would be made available on the platform after the event, allowing fans around the world to relive the performances on demand.
The company added that the partnership reinforces its commitment to promoting African music, supporting artists and strengthening connections between creators and audiences across the globe.
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