Nigerian gospel artist, Oluseyi Solagbade storms London in August

By: Michael Mike

Nigerian gospel artist, Oluseyi Solagbade is expected to perform in London, on 15 August 2025.

The show is scheduled for Concord House, 23-27 Kemp Road, Dagenham, United Kingdom.

The praise concert which is organised by Bdot Music Empire and supported by Toxhann Concepts and events is Solagbade’s first outing in the UK.

The popular Sio cronny, is well known mostly among members of the Celestial Church of Christ and other denominations.

Apart from Sio, the legendary Celestial gospel artist has done other songs which include: Jehoval Alagbara, Ibamasepe and
idemija, among others.

Bdot Music Empire boss, Mr. Abidemi Adetunji said though it’s a gospel concert, it is however targeted at second and third generation Nigerians in the UK.

Adetunji said the essence is to ensure they are in touch with home even if they have not been to Nigeria before.

He said praising God in Nigeria tongue is something special in the UK.

⁠This would be Solagbade’s first show in the UK and he is hoping that it would be the beginning of more to come.

He said: “ ⁠We would like Nigerians in the United Kingdom to know that Oluseyi Solagbade would be coming to the UK for his first ever UK edition of Oluseyi’s Christ Cafe.

He would be lighting the show alongside some other guests artist like Sammypee, Tiwalola shitu, Israel Ekundayo, Ebenezer Opalemo, Damilola (Dee’Reign), Tunde Stainless, MoShoba, Tosin Adisa and Danny Jazz.”

Adetunji pointed out that the idea behind the music concert is to celebrate the divine gift of music within the Celestial Church of Christ and to bring together believers for an evening of live music, worship, and spiritual reflection.”

Adetunji further said that the concert goes along with the Nigeria first agenda of President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria will be showcased all through.

“⁠It is also part of promoting the culture. Praying and worshiping God in mother tongue,” he added.

Nigerian gospel artist, Oluseyi Solagbade storms London in August

Music Donates Towards Feeding, Education of Orphans, Abandoned Children in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

Sony Music Entertainment has donated towards the feeding and payment of school fees of children at an orphanage home, Vines Heritage Home, Gwagwalada in Abuja, Nigeria.

The donation was presented through ActionAid Sweden to ActionAid Nigeria and disbursed to the orphanage home which house 219 orphans and abandoned children.

Presenting the donation to the Vines Heritage Home at the weekend in Abuja, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu disclosed that about $10,000 was donated by a musician on the Sony Music Entertainment label who felt persuaded to contribute towards bettering the living of orphans in the country.

He said the artiste chose to remain anonymous.

Mamedu said: “It is with great joy and gratitude that I stand before you today on behalf of ActionAid Nigeria to acknowledge and celebrate a significant milestone in our collective efforts towards promoting access to quality education and improving the well-being of children in Nigeria.

“We are deeply grateful for the generous funding support provided by Sony Entertainment through ActionAid Sweden. As a globally recognized organisation, Sony Entertainment understands the crucial role of investing in education and securing a brighter future for children. This invaluable support will significantly impact the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in our society, particularly the 76 girls from Vines Heritage Home (VHH) and the 219 children under our care.”

He added that: “Through this funding, ActionAid Nigeria will ensure the payment of school fees for the second and third terms of the 2024/2025 academic session for 76 girls in five schools within the Gwagwalada Area Council. This means that these young girls can continue their education without disruption, empowering them with the knowledge and skills they need to build brighter futures.

“In addition to supporting education, the funding has been also used to procure food and essential non-food items for 219 children in VHH. Proper nutrition and necessities are critical for a child’s overall development, and with this intervention, we are ensuring that no child in our care goes to bed hungry or lacks the essentials they need to thrive.”

Mamedu also said: “Furthermore, part of the funding from Sony Entertainment will be utilized to engage policymakers to advocate for better education policies that improve learning outcomes for children. By working closely with key decision-makers, we aim to create systemic changes that will enhance access to quality education and ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has an equal opportunity to succeed.

“I would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Sony Entertainment for their commitment to social responsibility and their willingness to invest in the future of our children. This act of generosity is a testament to the power of partnerships in driving meaningful change in our communities.”

He said: “We also recognize and appreciate the presence of our key stakeholders, including the representative from the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCTUBEB). Your dedication to strengthening the education sector is invaluable, and we look forward to continued collaboration to ensure that every child has access to quality education.
To the young girls and children who are the direct beneficiaries of this initiative, I want you to know that you are valued, and your dreams matter. Education is a powerful tool that can change lives and uplift communities. Take full advantage of this opportunity, work hard, and continue to aspire for greatness.”

Music Donates Towards Feeding, Education of Orphans, Abandoned Children in Nigeria

Wanted drug kingpin, Nollywood filmmaker arrested over huge illicit drug shipments

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have arrested a wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Ajoke Elediye on new year day in her mansion at Okota area of Lagos following the interception of a truckload of illicit drug consignment from her staff same day.

Alhaji Ajoke known in the drug underworld and social circle as “Iya Ruka”, has her true identity shrouded in mystery for years while she remained on the wanted list of NDLEA for leading one of the drug cartels operating from Mushin area of Lagos. The lid was however blown off her invincibility last Wednesday when NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilogrammes of imported cannabis and driven by one of her staff, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.

The operatives subsequently stormed her hideout at 33 Adebayo Oyewole street, off Ago Palace way, Okota, where she was arrested.

According to the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, on the surface, Alhaja Ajoke is a businesswoman who imports fabrics and shoes from China but beneath is a massive illicit drug trade. She is also recognized as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.

Babafemi said in another major operation, NDLEA officers on Friday 27th December 2024 arrested a US-trained Hollywood and Nollywood filmmaker, Emeka Mbadiwe, who is also a motivational speaker at his Lekki Hotel room following the arrest of his partner, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu, earlier same day at a warehouse in Ajao estate Ikeja, where he was sent by Mbadiwe to collect a shipment of 33 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 17.3 kilogrammes, which arrived the Import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on 24th December 2024 from the United States on a Delta Airline flight, concealed in large wooden boxes.

In Kwara state, a fresh graduate Khadijat Abdulraheem, 24, and a 20-year-old student of the University of Ilorin, Ayomide Morakinyo were on Sunday 29th December 2024 arrested by NDLEA operatives at Tanke-University of Ilorin road, Oke Odo, Ilorin based on credible intelligence that they were producing and selling drug laced cupcakes to students in the community. When their apartment was searched, 42 pieces of drugged cakes were recovered from them.

Babafemi also said an ex-convict, Sodade Eniola, who was arrested by operatives of the Tincan Command of NDLEA in June, 2024, for drug trafficking, prosecuted and sentenced to four years in prison has been arrested again by officers of the MMIA Strategic Command of the agency for passport racketeering. Earlier, when he was convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos on 14th June 2024, the trial judge gave him an option of paying N750,000 fine, which he paid and was let go.

The spokesman said however, in series of operations in December 2024, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Lagos airport intercepted no fewer than 52 passports of different countries from shipments going to Canada, Russia, and other countries concealed in shoe soles and food items. Further investigations led to the arrest of four members of three syndicates involved in the racket.

The arrested suspects include: Sodade Eniola; Ayinde Awwal; Salaudeen Ayode; and Sheriff Bamigbade. Both the exhibits and the suspects were last Monday handed over to the Zonal Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Lagos for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Babafemi said not less than 316, 800 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from two containers by NDLEA officers at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne Rivers state during a joint examination of the shipments with men of Nigeria Customs and other security agencies last Tuesday. He disclosed that the seizure followed credible intelligence processed by the Port Harcourt Port Command of the agency.

In Kano, NDLEA operatives last Tuesday 31st December 2024 raided Mafarki, Dan Dishe area of Dala LG where they recovered 149,090 pills of tramadol and exol-5 from a local dealer, 45-year-old Ismail Muhammad.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

Meanwhile while commending the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Kano, PHPC and Kwara Commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

Wanted drug kingpin, Nollywood filmmaker arrested over huge illicit drug shipments