Ridoola's blog

2022 was a great year for TV and web shows! There has never been more TV and web content than there is now. With more international streaming platforms entering the African market , we are only going to have more options. With the new year around the corner, here are our TV and web picks for 2022: ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ Within a few weeks online, the Showmax reality TV show quickly became a hit with a dedicated audience thanks to the cast: Laura Ikeji, Carolyna Hutchings, Mariam Timmer, Iyabo Ojo, fashionistas Chioma Ikokwu, and Toyin Lawani-Adebayo. Every week, the spin-off from the popular The Real Housewives series franchise trended for its interesting cast, ruined friendships, messy drama , and dirty laundry, which fans ate up. The show ended with a captivated fanbase clamouring for season two. ‘Blood Sisters’ Starting as a regular owambe (Nigerian party, in this case, a wedding), this Netflix limited series quickly turned into a refreshing thriller directed by th...

Contrary to the popular notion that Hip Hop is dead in Nigeria, the genre is well and alive, and new talents are emerging to add some excitement and even complexities to the Hip Hop Scene. In 2022, Nigerian rappers dropped new projects in which they explore a variety of Hip Hop sounds while also finding ways to reconcile them with mainstream appeal in a bid to return the genre to its commercial glory days. While the veterans delivered bodies of work that reminded listeners of their super-talent, the emerging stars showed flashes of brilliance that inspires confidence that the future of Hip Hop is in safe hands. Pulse Music Desk has ranked the top 10 Hip Hop projects of 2022 (December 1st 2021 - November 30th 2022) using the following criteria: Content Success (In targeted demography and beyond)  Appeal These projects are considered holistically as it takes more than just a few singles to make a good album. It’s also important to note that commercial success doesn’t trump q...

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of chief executives and renewal of the tenure of some officers of parastatal agencies. This is contained in a statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha and issued by Mr Willie Bassey, Director Information, in his office. According to the statement, Buhari ratified the appointment of Dauda Biu as the Corp Marshal/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) with effect from Dec. 23 for an initial term of four years. Also, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye was re-appointed as the Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), with effective date of December 2022 for a final term of five years. Equally, Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila was re-appointed as Director-General National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) with effect from Nov. 21 for a final term of four years. Meanwhile, five executive directors were re-appointed in four of the na...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Katsina has arrested an alleged major supplier of tramadol in the state and recovered 1,140 capsules in his position. Mr Mohammed Bashir, the NDLEA Commander in the state, made this known on Friday in Katsina. He said the suspect, a 40-year-old man, who has been hiding under the guise of operating motorcycle spare parts was arrested on Thursday. Bashir said the suspect who hails from Enugu State was arrested in his residence with the first consignment of drugs. “As usual, we don’t just stop there, we continued with our investigations. “We also found some of the drugs in his vehicle. “We did a follow-up operation and got his Toyota Sienna vehicle and recovered more of the exhibit. “It will interest you to know that this person is also a spare parts dealer, as we speak to you, we actually sealed his shop because we believe that the proceeds of drugs is what he uses to run his business,” he said. He said the NDLEA sealed the su...

No fewer than 1,180 Police constables graduated on Friday from the Police College in Maiduguri. Speaking at the passing out parade, the Inspector General of Police (IG-P), Usman Alkali, charged them to show the highest level of character, discipline and integrity that matters in determining the extent they go in their policing career. Represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG ) in charge of Nigeria Mobile Force, Ali Janga , Alkali reminded them that discipline is the bedrock of policing and enjoined them to ensure self-discipline toward the conduct of their activities. The IG-P disclosed that the graduands would be posted back to their respective local government areas of origin to further entrench the Policing Strategy of the Federal Government towards addressing communal crimes in their localities. He explained that they would be deployed to complement officers on the forthcoming election security duties across the country in a bid to ensure a free, fair, and...

He is the first of his kind to appear on the Nigerian pop scene. His vibe, resilience, and melodies are as distinct, new, and mysterious as his moniker " ODUMODUBLVCK ." One of the most intriguing voices to come out of Nigeria's capital in the past ten years is ODUMODUBLVCK , born Tochukwu Ojogwu, who was raised in Abuja and was born in Lagos. In addition to being the first Drill musician in Nigeria, he also performs under the umbrella of the Hip-Hop subgenre known as 'Okporoko Rhythms,' which draws inspiration from Grime, Fela Kuti's Afrobeat, and Progressive R&B. His profound, introspective lyricism, which dominates every song and stage he performs on, is influenced by this musical background. He is the only person in recent memory to have premiered the video for his single ' Picanto ,' which features Zlatan and Ecko Miles , at the Silverbird Cinemas in Abuja. Future Sounds Playlist cover December - Odumodublvck Odumodublvck, a rising N...

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, wants law-abiding citizens and parents to encourage their children and wards to take interest in policing. Baba made the appeal in a message he sent to the passing out of 374 Police constables from the Police Training College, Oyin Akoko, Ondo State. He said more people should join the police not just as a career but to contribute to nation building. His message was delivered by AIG Y.M Akeera , the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 17, Akure. He charged the new police constables to be good ambassadors on the job by exhibiting good character and professionalism at all times. “It has become imperative for you to abide by the laws guiding policing and also be good role models so as to encourage others to toe the line of policing. “You must shun acts that are at variance with the standards of the Police, as the force does not spare anyone who errs,’’ he warned. In his remarks, ACP Adebayo Rafiu, the Commandant ...

American rapper Meek Mill has reportedly lost his phone to thieves in Ghana where he's currently visiting for the Afronation concert. Details : Meek Mill is currently in Ghana for the Afronation concert where he's a headline artist alongside Nigerian megastar Burna Boy and superstar Asake. Meek Mill has been spotted cruising on the streets of Ghana while partaking in motorcycle stunts as he seeks to connect with his African roots. However, his experience in the West African nation appears to have taken a rapper sour note as his phone was reportedly stolen. On Friday, 30th December 2022, news across Twitter reported that Meek Mill has had his phone stolen and this was confirmed via his Instagram story that his pocket was picked and his phone stolen. "They pickpocketed me for my phone SMH! Bring that jawn back if you got it" he wrote in the post in which he announced the theft and appealed that his phone is returned. Meek Mill's Instagram Story Friday, 30th...

Adesina said “ insurgents running riot across the length and breadth of the country” until Buhari became president. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, on Friday, December 30, 2022, said that Nigeria was on the brink of extinction before the emergence of his principal in 2015. Why Adesina said this: The presidential aide was reacting to a Christmas message by Catholic cleric Matthew Kukah , who said Buhari is leaving Nigerians “ far more vulnerable” than when he came. What Adesina said: According to Adesina, Buhari “stabilised the land, crushed vermin, and is cleaning the polity”. Writing in his weekly column, Adesina said “ insurgents running riot across the length and breadth of the country” until Buhari became president. “ Where was the Bishop in 2015, when the polity had been completely shot to ribbons, and you couldn’t exactly say this was where Nigeria stood? Was there even a Nigeria, with insurgents running riot acros...

The governors have reportedly agreed to work with Tinubu. The Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly struck a deal with the five aggrieved governors who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Earlier in the week, the governors better known as G5 governors had a marathon meeting with Tinubu in the United Kingdom, where the APC candidate lobbied for their endorsement. The meeting was attended by all the G-5 governors; Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). From Tinubu’s side were, Governor of Jigawa State, Badaru Abubakar and the former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi. However, on Thursday, December 29, 2022, indications emerged that Tinubu was able to win the governors to his side. According to a source who spoke with Daily Trust, the governors agreed to work with Tinubu. The source said, “ We have agreed to work tog...

The state government said construction will include a greenfield tolled road and bridge with a designed speed of 120 kilometres per hour, including the development of adjacent real estate. The Lagos State government, through the Office of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), has announced Messrs CCECC-CRCCIG Consortium as the preferred bidder for the construction of the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge project. The decision was announced by Ope George , the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Public Private Partnerships, during a briefing at the PPP office in Ikeja on Thursday, December 29, 2022. George explained that the Fourth Mainland Bridge project is a proposed Public Private Partnership (PPP) transport infrastructure development that comprises the construction and operation of a greenfield tolled road and bridge with a design speed of 120km/h, including the development of adjacent real estates. According to the Governor's aide, when completed, the bridge would...

“ It’s expected that many Nigerian businesses will start to get rid of the old notes as soon as banks start paying redesigned notes to customers. ” The Senate has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately extend the withdrawal date of old currency notes from January 31, 2023, to June 31, 2023. The upper chamber’s resolution was a continuation of a point of order raised by Senator Mohammed Ndume (APC-Borno) during Wednesday’s, December 28, 2022, plenary. The call for extension of withdrawal date: Raising Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rule, Ndume insisted that the call for an extension of the date should be considered a matter of urgent national importance in a bid to forestall imminent hardship on Nigerians. According to Ndume: “ It’s expected that many Nigerian businesses will start to get rid of the old notes as soon as banks start paying redesigned notes to customers. ” He added, “the withdrawal of old [naira] notes from circulation if not extended ...

Details: Nigerian celebrated rappers M.I Abaga and Vector have excited fans with a rare performance at a Hip Hop event in Lagos. Details : Award-winning rappers M.I Abaga and Vector thrilled fans when they both perform their single 'Crown of Clay' at The Hip Hop event in Lagos. It was the first time the two rappers will be performing together in their celebrated career that has spanned over a decade. Fans will recall that M.I Abaga and Vector have a record of being at loggerheads with both rappers clashing on the state of Hip Hop in Nigeria as well as at personal levels. In 2018, both rappers engaged in a widely publicized back-and-forth which saw M.I record the diss track 'The Viper' which Vector also replied with a diss record of his own titled 'Judas' . Their disagreement was later settled and they went on to collaborate on the Pheelz-produced 'Crown Of Clay' . As two of the biggest rappers in Nigeria, M.I and Vector have dazzled fans with ...

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has urged Nigerians to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rescue and rebuild the country from the hardship created by the APC-led Federal Government. Okowa , who is also the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, gave the advice on Wednesday at the party’s rally in Ughelli-North and Isoko South Local Government Areas of Delta. He said that only the PDP had the right experience to rebuild the nation’s economy and stop the pervasive insecurity across the country. Okowa said that the party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had the requisite experience and political will to turn things around as he did as vice president to President Olusegun Obasanjo. He said that some members of the opposition in Delta were not pleased with the state’s empowerment of youths and women with relevant skills. Okowa implored the people to reject arrogant politicians who brought shame and disgrace to the state. He urged them to vote for the Delta PDP govern...

Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections has promised massive investment in agriculture and in other sectors, if re-elected Matawalle made the promise while addressing APC supporters on Wednesday in Bukura, Zamfara West Senatorial in continuation of the zonal campaign rally. He also promised to prioritise projects that would tackle unemployment, poverty and insecurity. Matawalle urged the electorate to vote for the APC as his candidacy would ensure massive infrastructure and human development across the state. The governor assured that, if re-elected, he would focus on tackling insecurity, youth empowerment, and human development. He assured the people of employment opportunities among the youth, while addressing insecurity would allow farmers to return to their farmlands. Matawalle said Zamfara was blessed with fertile lands for agriculture and solid mineral deposits that would attract massive direc...

Tinubu reportedly had a marathon meeting with the G-5 governors in the United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. The five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have reportedly met Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in London. The governors, who have parted ways with the presidential candidate of their party, Atiku Abubakar , recently declared that their preferred presidential candidate would be announced in January. The governors’ refusal to support Atiku is predicated on the refusal of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign following Atiku's emergence as the presidential candidate of the main opposition party. The governors, Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) , Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu states argued that the leadership of the party is too pro-north as Atiku, Ayu and other key leaders of the PDP are from the northern region of the coun...

There are speculations that other carnival activities for the year have been suspended. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed seven persons dead and 29 injured in an incident that occurred during the annual Calabar Carnival on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Eye witness account: Eye witnesses said that more than ten persons including spectators at the ongoing Calabar Carnival were killed when a vehicle lost control and swerved into unsuspecting crowd at the Carnival. The incident happened at about 4pm on Mary Slessor Road, one of the carnival routes. Today was listed by the carnival organisers for power bike and exotic cars parades. But the event started late, and was eventually cut shut. The vehicle that lost control was not part of the carnival cars, according to the eye witnesses. “We saw the truck coming from opposite direction of the carnival procession and rammed into waiting crowd of spectators, hawkers and residents of Bogobiri. “As many as ten persons are beli...

2022 has claimed the lives of three Yoruba veterans; now Adebayo has joined them, making four. Kamal Adebayo, popularly known as Sir Kay, a veteran Yoruba actor and the father of popular skit maker, Isbae U, has died. The announcement of his passing was made by the Chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, on Tuesday, December 27, via his Instagram page. He wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Alhaji Kamal Adebayo (Sir Kay). May Allah grant him eternal rest. RIP Sir Kay.” Other Yoruba actors and actresses have taken to their social media platforms to mourn the deceased. Reacting to the development, actor Yomi Fabiyi said in a post on Instagram that the news of the death of Sir Kay made him weak. "O di gba kan naa, Sir K Warrior. Wabili Kabbar. RIP senior man. I am weak," Fabiyi wrote. As of the time of this report, the comedian has yet to make an official comment about his father’...

...the video was disseminated by an unpopular Facebook user... A video has emerged showing the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for the 2023 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, falling off the stage at a rally. Conventional details: Although the exact date and place the incident happened cannot be ascertained, the video was disseminated by an unpopular Facebook user. What really happened: In the video , The NNPP presidential candidate spotted a loose plank on his stage, and in the attempt to fix it, the other planks that were the ground of the stage caved-in. Kwankwaso was quickly helped back to his feet by stunned party chieftains. What you should know about Kwankwaso: Despite being considered one of the dark horses in the race for the presidency in 2023, Kwankwaso is running in a general election for the first time. He was a former Kano State governor, minister, and envoy. Kwankwaso's manifesto: The former two-term governor of Kano state had unveile...

The comedy has surpassed James Cameron's 'Avatar 2' in ticket sales. Funke Akindele's 'Battle on Buka Street' is currently leading the Nigerian Box Office . Over the weekend, the comedy grossed almost N50 million, passing James Cameron's 'Avatar 2' (N44 million); a rare feat for local movies. While Akindele's movie enjoyed an 8% increase from December 23rd-25th, 'Avatar 2' appears to be losing steam, falling behind by 5%. Nigerian Box Office After spending two weeks in cinemas across the country, the highly anticipated action/sci-fi film has made almost N200 million. 'Battle on Buka Street' inches close with N135 million. Both opened on December 16, 2022, with Cameron's latest offering grossing N95.14 million while the comedy earned with N86.63 million. Globally, Variety reports that the 'Avatar' sequel has surpassed a major box office milestone with $955.1 million in ticket sales. In only two weeks, the acti...

Director Sele Got has dropped the teaser has dropped for heist movie, 'Charlie and the Boys.' Written by Nwamaka Chikezie, the film follows the story of Charles Omokwe, who is released from jail after serving one year of a six-year prison sentence for a failed heist. Upon realising that he was betrayed by his employer, Charlie plots his revenge to steal back a priceless 14th-century artefact with the help of his crew while staying one step ahead of the law. Charlie And The Boys Starring Kanayo O. Kanayo in the titular role, the cast for the Damn Good Studio Production includes Tina Mba, Sani Mu’Azu, Seun Ajayi, Loud Voice, Erica Opia Bale, Lantana Ahmed, Gloria Lemmy Johnson, Folake Akinfewa, Ozioma Onodigbo, Fredrik Skog, Mårten Skog and Peter Sivlér. Shot on location in Abuja and Dubai, 'Charlie and the Boys' is set for release in 2023. Watch the teaser: ridoola.blogspot.com

From Meg Otangwa’s brilliant portrayal of a mother suffering from postpartum depression to Genoveva Umeh’s breakout moment, here are the actors who owned this year. With the COVID-19 pandemic mostly behind us, 2022 has been a great year for both film and television. From cinemas to streaming, there was no shortage of fantastic entertainment and memorable performances. On the heels of our ranking of this year's best films, we have compiled a list of our top actors (both male and female). In addition to the obvious contenders, we noticed some incredible performances from a couple of up-and-comers who had us spellbound with their undeniable talent. And the award for the top 10 Nollywood actors of 2022 goes to: 1.Meg Otanwa in ‘For Maria’ From C.J Obasi ’s 2014 ‘Ojuju’ to ‘Knockout Blessing’, Otanwa has consistently stood out for her ability to turn any onscreen time she has into powerful moments, and ‘For Maria’ (Ẹ̀bùn Pàtàkì) is no different. In Damilola Orimogunje ’s movie , ...

In his eponymously named EP, Ashley displays a desire to connect with the mainstream audience while showing flashes of musicality. While his melodies, flows, and penmanship are ostensibly rudimentary, they are the elements of a newbie, and he makes up for this in flashes of versatility where he explores different sounds. In the Pop opener, 'I Love You' his writing is elementary, and his delivery gleans from street poetry style. While he uses pidgin to connect with a larger audience, his vocals and melody retain the posh elements of a budding artist whose primary influences are western propelled Pop music. He displays impressive versatility in 'Broken' and 'Commando' , adopting a Dancehall bounce in the former while combining Pop-rap and Afrobeat horns in the latter. While his vocals are rough around the edges and his melodies lack the command to arrest attention, Ashley does flow with admirable ease. Even though he talks about familiar subjects of love, he...

Arthur Eze says he advised him not to waste his money. Anambra businessman and billionaire, Prince Arthur Eze has distanced himself from Peter Obi’s presidential dream saying he does not support it. Eze, who spoke at the occasion of the 2022 Ofala festival of HRH Igwe (Dr.) Robert Eze, the traditional ruler of Ukpo in Dunukofia local government area of the state on Monday, December 26, 2022, said warned Obi to drop his ambition, but he wouldn’t listen. He said after listening to the Labour Party presidential candidate on the number of states he thought he could win, he advised him to withdraw from the race and wait for next time. He added that he advised him not to waste his money because he was not convinced that the Labour Party flag bearer can win the 2023 presidential election. He said, “I warned Peter Obi to withdraw from this race but he would not listen. I told him plainly that I am not part of his plans. I told him to drop his ambition, and wait for next time. “When he to...

Award-winning artist BNXN FKA Buju has released a featured on a new song titled 'Omo Elewa' after the viral social media clip. Artist: T,Y,E, BNXN Song Title: Omo Elewa Genre: Afro-pop Date of Release: December 26th, 2022 Producer: JAE5 Song Art: TYE, BNXN - 'Omo Elewa' Length: 3 minutes 09 seconds Features: NONE Label : To Your Ears Entertainment Details/Takeaway: BNXN has teamed up with his record label for a new single titled 'Omo Elewa' on which he partners with international hitmaking producer JAE5 with whom he samples the viral social media clip through familiar melodies. STREAM HERE ridoola.blogspot.com

The new series premieres next month on Showmax. Showmax is set to debut a new original telenovela titled 'Wura.' This latest addition is a Nigerian adaptation of the hit South African 1Magic telenovela, 'The River.' The show is billed to be the first and longest-running Nigerian telenovela on the streaming service, with over 200 episodes. 'Wura' tells the story of Wura-Amoo Adeleke, a perfect wife, a loving mother of two, and the ruthless Chief Executive Officer of the fictional Frontline Gold Mine. In the eyes of her family, Wura is faultless and a saint, but when it comes to running her business empire, she is the ultimate iron lady who doesn’t care whose ox is gored in her path to get what she wants. The show is set in the gold mining industry in the Iperindo, a small community in Osun state in the South-Western part of Nigeria. It is one of the clusters of seven gold deposits around Ilesha town. Despite the promise that the presence of the precious me...

In this exclusive interview, these three actors break down their different roles and more. School is officially in session on Netflix’s first Nigerian young adult show, ‘Far From Home.’ Produced in partnership with Inkblot Productions, the five-part series follows the story of Ishaya (Mike Afolarin) , a charismatic teenager and talented artist. Born into a poor family, his dreams suddenly appear within reach when a prestigious scholarship to the most exclusive school in the country catapults him into the affluent world of Nigeria’s elite. All the while, a secret threatens Ishaya’s newfound status and, ultimately, his family’s safety. ‘Far From Home’ features established legends like Funke Akindele, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Bimbo Akintola, Femi Branch and Bolanle Ninalowo. The series also stars young talents like Mike Afolarin, Elma Mbadiwe, Genoveva Umeh, Gbubemi Ejeye , Olumide Oworu, and Natse Jemide. Pulse got to chat with three of these fast rising stars; ...

These are men who were able to dazzle us not only with their significant achievements this year but also with their looks.. The men in Nigeria's entertainment sector have prospered in maintaining the narrative of the sector's growth and breaking numerous records. They continued to give us reasons to admire and respect them throughout the year. The men on the list have mystified followers with their appearances, immaculate fashion sense, social media presence, and enviable accomplishments despite their busy schedules. For this article, the Pulse Celebrity Desk will be taking a look at the hottest male celebrities in Nigeria for 2022: 1. Denola Grey I think it can be universally acknowledged that Grey is a guy that every woman has a crush on. It’s no wonder, as he’s tall, handsome, sexy, and exceptionally fashionable—all of which the ladies like. The author and actor is no newbie in the fashion and entertainment spaces. He is a fashion expert who loves to dazzle his fans w...