Category Entertainment News

Nollywood filmmaker and businessman Kunle Afolayan has cried out over the rising cost of diesel in the country. 

The 51-year-old director said the cost of diesel is quietly bleeding his businesses dry, disclosing that he spends ₦11 million on fuel every four to five weeks.

Afolayan, who owns and operates the KAP Film Village and Resort, made the emotional admission in a video he posted on his Instagram page on Tuesday.

“I’ve been sad because I can’t cope with the ₦1,500 per litre of diesel,” the entrepreneur said.

“In one of the businesses that we run, the KAP Village, we spend about ₦11 million in four or five weeks on diesel. And we have solar power, but we’re still spending about ₦11 million.”

He said that while investing in solar energy as an alternative power source has helped, his operations still lean heavily on diesel to maintain a stable, uninterrupted power supply.

According to him, and with diesel now selling at around ₦1,500 per litre — up from roughly ₦995 to ₦1,000 some days ago — the numbers simply do not add up.

READ ALSO: Kunle Afolayan Signs Deal With Benin Republic To Boost West Africa’s Film Industry

To stay afloat, Afolayan revealed that his businesses have resorted to buying diesel on credit, paying off the debt in bits whenever cash comes in.

“The diesel we’ve been buying, we’ve been buying on credit. When we make little money, we find a way to pay. Sometimes it takes two months to even pay down and then get another one on credit,” he said.

“But now from about ₦1,000 or ₦995 to ₦1,500, it’s not sustainable. If you can come to our aid, I’ll really appreciate it.”

His appeal comes amid the hike in the cost of fuel in Nigeria.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) — commonly known as petrol — for the third time in one week.

Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called for sustained support for Nigeria’s entertainment and creative industries, stressing that creativity is a continuous process that cannot be exhausted.

The governor stated this while speaking at the launch of the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation by Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu emphasised that creativity is constantly evolving and cannot be brought to an end, urging continued support for talents in the sector.

“Creativity is creativity. Every year and every day, it grows. There’s a new idea, new music and new dance. So you can never end creativity. Where she ends is where some other people will start from.

“But we believe she still has a lot to learn and to pass on. It’s a moving process; you never get to the end of creativity, and that is why we must open our hearts and minds and continue to support them,” he said.

READ ALSO: Afrobeats Going Through ‘A Purge,’ Returning To Its Roots — Joeboy

The governor commended the singer for creating a platform aimed at discovering and nurturing emerging African music talents. According to him, the initiative reflects Savage’s desire to give others the opportunities she once had.

“She (Tiwa) is one of the country’s best. More importantly, what I see in this and why we’re supporting it is that she’s looked at how she has grown, but she knows there are so many other artists and creatives who probably have not had the opportunities she has had,” he said.

He added that the foundation would help build capacity within the industry by providing professional training in key areas of music production.

“What she’s using the foundation for is to begin to develop capacity, training, and give them an opportunity to get training at the highest level, for music, for production, for mixing, for whatever it is in that space.

“It’s not only one type of music, but different possible types of music. It’s such a great thing when you can see yourself and want to replicate yourself in several other people. I think it is commendable,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

The governor also highlighted efforts by the Lagos State Government to support the creative sector through training and partnerships with industry institutions.

“The fact that I’m here is a lot of endorsement; that is supporting. But more importantly, year in, year out, we train thousands of people in music, fashion and Nollywood. Through institutions like Del York and Ogidi Studios, several thousands have been trained and we even give grants.

“We go to some known training institutions and provide funding. For example, EbonyLife is one of those platforms we’ve used to train people, and we pay for their curriculum and training needs. But I’m also here to support her and lend support to others,” he said.

100 African Creatives

The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation was officially unveiled on March 9, 2026, at The Delborough Lagos.

The initiative is designed to discover and train emerging African music talents while improving access to professional education in the creative industry.

According to the organisers, the foundation will focus on multiple aspects of the music ecosystem, including songwriting, music production, sound engineering, music publishing, film scoring and music therapy.

It aims to bridge the gap between talent and access to training, infrastructure and global opportunities for African creatives.

The foundation’s first programme will select 100 African creatives for a free four-day training session scheduled to be held in Lagos from April 23 to April 26, 2026.

The programme will be organised in partnership with Berklee College of Music, Savage’s alma mater, with faculty members leading sessions on songwriting, performance, music production and the music business.

Some participants may also receive full scholarships to study at Berklee, including accommodation. Applications are currently open to musicians, producers, songwriters and other music industry professionals, with the deadline set for March 20, 2026.

Beyond the inaugural programme, the foundation plans to offer mentorship, training resources and long-term career pathways for African creatives, to nurture the next generation of music professionals and connect them to global opportunities.

The launch event attracted several prominent figures from entertainment, business and public life, including media entrepreneur Mo Abudu, talent manager Bose Ogulu, television personality Toke Makinwa and musician Darey Art Alade.

Others in attendance were socialite Yeni Kuti, singer Johnny Drille and his wife Layal Holm, entrepreneur Shade Okoya, business executive Florence Ita-Giwa, music executive Soso Soberekon, reality TV star Sultana and cleric Bolaji Idowu.

Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage has launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, an initiative aimed at discovering and training emerging African music talents while expanding access to world-class education in the creative industry.

The foundation was officially unveiled on March 9, 2026, during a high-profile launch event at The Delborough Lagos. The gathering attracted prominent figures from the entertainment industry, business community and public sector.

Speaking at the event, the 46-year-old music star said the initiative would focus on building skills across several areas of the music ecosystem beyond performance.

“This is everything to do with music, film scoring, music publishing, music therapy, production, sound engineering,” the award-winning singer said.

According to the singer, the foundation seeks to bridge the gap between raw talent and access to professional training and global opportunities.

“We don’t lack talents in Nigeria, we have so much talents. What I want to do is to be able to create access so that people that have the talent can find the right infrastructure, education and can also be a bridge and pipeline to the rest of the world,” Savage said.

As part of its inaugural programme, the foundation will select 100 African creatives who will undergo a four-day intensive training programme in Lagos from April 23 to 26, 2026.

The initiative is being organised in partnership with Berklee College of Music, Savage’s alma mater, which will bring its faculty members to Nigeria for the programme.

Participants will receive hands-on training in songwriting, live performance, music production and the business side of the industry. The training will be free for selected applicants.

The Somebody’s Son singer explained that the initiative was inspired by her own educational journey at Berklee, where she studied in the mid-2000s.

“We are going to be picking a 100 talents, and we are paying for this foundation, they don’t have to pay anything. The 100 that gets chosen will get world class education in four days and we will pick a few of them that we will actually sponsor the full scholarship to go to Berklee and accommodation,” she said.

Encouraging aspiring creatives to apply, she added, “My advice is to use this opportunity…opportunity favours the prepared. This is the first of many years; even if you don’t get it this year you will have the chance to prepare for next year.”

Applications for the programme are open to musicians, producers, songwriters and other creatives across Africa until March 20, 2026.

Savage said the foundation is designed to support not only artistes but also professionals behind the scenes such as producers, sound engineers, instrumentalists and music executives.

She emphasised that music education and access to industry networks can significantly shape creative careers.

Reflecting on her own experience studying music abroad, Savage noted that exposure to structured systems helped her better understand the business side of the industry, including ownership and professional development.

The foundation also aims to provide mentorship, training resources and long-term career pathways for young African creatives.

Speaking about collaboration with other organisations, Savage stressed the importance of partnerships in sustaining the foundation’s work.

“I don’t think you can ever have enough foundations. We are all trying to make Nigeria and the world a better place. Every foundation needs funds and we need funds; we are also trying to partner.”

Guest Appearances 

The launch event drew several notable personalities from entertainment, business and public life.

Among those in attendance were media mogul Mo Abudu, talent manager Bose Ogulu, television personality Toke Makinwa, musician Darey Art Alade and socialite Yeni Kuti.

Also present were singer Johnny Drille and his wife, Layal Holm, entrepreneur Shade Okoya, business executive Florence Ita-Giwa, music executive Soso Soberekon, reality TV star Sultana, and cleric Bolaji Idowu.

Political and business leaders in attendance included Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Industry, Adaora Umeoji, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, and Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the governor described Tiwa Savage as one of the country’s finest artistes and re-emphasised the importance of supporting the creative industry for Nigeria’s development.

A woman alleged to have fired an assault rifle at the luxury Los Angeles home of Rihanna — while the pop superstar was inside — was being held by police on Monday.

Officers in the city said shots were fired towards the mansion in the middle of the day on Sunday by a suspect driving a white Tesla, which had stopped across the street.

Aerial footage after the attack showed bullet holes in a gate at the sprawling property, which Rihanna shares with rapper A$AP Rocky and their three children.

READ ALSO: Singer Rihanna’s LA Mansion Struck By Gunfire

The Los Angeles Police Department said Ivanna Lisette Ortiz was arrested at a shopping complex half an hour after the incident.

Captain Mike Bland told reporters the weapon used was an AR-15-style rifle.

Ortiz was booked on suspicion of attempted murder with bail set at $10.225 million.

Pop superstar Rihanna’s Los Angeles home was hit by gunfire on Sunday after a woman opened fire on the property while the singer was reportedly inside, according to US media.

The shooting erupted after 1:00 pm (2000 GMT) when a suspect fired approximately 10 rounds from a vehicle across the street from the mansion in the Beverly Hills area, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing police.

At least one round pierced a wall of the residence, where Rihanna lives with partner A$AP Rocky and their children, local news station KTLA said. The singer was inside the residence, the reports said.

Rihanna, one of the world’s most popular pop stars, has not publicly commented on the shooting.

Officers said the suspect was a woman in her 30s who allegedly fled the scene before being arrested without incident a short time later. Police recovered a weapon during the arrest, KTLA added.

Investigators are still determining a motive for the attack.

Veteran broadcaster IK Osakioduwa has revealed the boundaries that define his career, including why he refuses to work with alcohol brands and the moment Zenith Bank’s Jim Ovia forced him to drop his “Wild Child” persona.

Despite his early fame, Osakioduwa revealed that an encounter with Zenith Bank CEO Jim Ovia forced a strategic pivot. Ovia was reportedly hesitant to hire a “Wild Child” for a prestigious corporate event, prompting Osakioduwa to use his birth name to secure his place in the high-end market.

Speaking on the With Chude podcast, the media heavyweight revealed that his decades-long career is built on two unshakeable pillars: strict spiritual boundaries and an uncompromising sense of market value.

“God said to me… you’re going to lose business now going forward if you’re trying to push the Wild Child… and that’s the space you need to start to play into,” he shared.

Perhaps most striking is Osakioduwa’s refusal to work with tobacco or alcohol brands, despite these industries being the primary financiers of the entertainment sector. He admitted to turning down multi-million naira deals early in his career to maintain this personal principle.

“We’re never ever going to take money over principle… It’s not a sin to work for alcohol brands… but it was a position I believe God wanted me to take.”

He applied this same “Mercedes-Benz” logic to his pricing, recalling a time he walked away from a 1.8 million naira offer because it fell short of his fee. “You gain more from what you refused than what you give,” he noted, asserting that holding his ground solidified his reputation in the premium market.

From the Radio Studio to Premier Corporate Host

This unwavering confidence was forged over decades in the industry. Long before he was a household name, Osakioduwa spent 18 years at Rhythm 93.7 FM, honing his craft from 2001. As the “Wild Child,” he became a radio staple, hosting flagship programmes like Dance Party with IK and The Morning Drive.

This radio foundation proved the ultimate springboard for his transition to the screen. While he is often linked to the debut of Big Brother Nigeria, his true continental breakthrough arrived with Big Brother Africa, which he hosted for six consecutive seasons from 2009.

The role placed him in over 40 million homes simultaneously, cementing his status as Africa’s most versatile presenter. In the years since, he has dominated the franchise circuit, leading the first two seasons of The Voice Nigeria (2016–2017) and multiple seasons of Nigerian Idol.

The broadcaster credited his late mother, who passed away in 2012, as the architect of his success. He revealed she personally intervened when he nearly quit entertainment to become an accountant.

“My mom grabbed me and said… ‘You see this entertainment is going to work for you.’ She grabbed my chequebook and said ‘You will write millions from this.’”

Osakioduwa also took a moment to pay tribute to Frank Edoho, whom he cited as the “gold standard” of Nigerian MCs. He revealed that Edoho mentored him on pricing early on, encouraging him to double his rates to reflect his true value.

“I’m not dragging anything with Frank,” he concluded, giving the veteran his “flowers” in a rare moment of industry humility.