Showbiz
Desperate Search for the Goldmine: Review of Gold Statue the Movie
Movie: Gold Statue
Genre: Comedy
Timing: 1hour 30 minutes
Director: Tade Ogidan
Year of Cinema Release: 2019
There is no gainsaying that Tade Ogidan is one of the big masquerades of the Nigerian movie industry who does not come to town regularly but whenever he comes, he dances well to the delight of his teeming fans. That is the same great work that has gone into his recently released movie, Gold Statue.
The flick parades Gabriel Afolayan who played the role of Adewale Esho, the son of Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD) and the temperamental screen diva, Sola Shobowale, named Akintade and Grace Esho in the movie. They had a comfortable middle class family based in Lagos.
Interestingly, their son, Adewale Esho, heard from the four-walls of a classroom about a huge gold statue in the city of Ilesha, which happened to be his country home. From his findings, it was part of his ancestral rights resources. He took time to research through his Grandfather and a friend overseas on the location of the statue. Grandpa did not divulge the information but his friend told him and the journey began to get this goldmine.
As a young man who just left school, he was able to leave home on the premise of going for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Adamawa State but he got his way back to Ilesha. After series of activities, he landed in jail. As the Yoruba saying goes, “Oruko to ba wu ni laa je leyin odi” meaning you can bear any name of choice outside the borders, he changed his name to Samuel Okon, but was lucky to be seen by someone who can identify him.
In fact, this act almost tore the family apart, his mother relocated to the family house in Ilesha just to ensure that he was fine. Eventually, the smart young man, became a force to reckon with in the prison. Thereafter, he was able to recruit fellow prisoners for the great task.
The a-list actors in the movie are numerous asides the aforementioned characters- Alli Baba,m Norbert Young; Woli Arole; Yemi Sodimu; Segun Arinze and D-Banj gave life to the movie. Equally, contemporary songs were used effectively to engage the audience. Tade Ogidan has been described as the Quentin Tarantino of Nigerian movies, and this new flick will put other filmmakers and producers on their toes for another timespan.
Let me leave you with some throbbing questions, what was the outcome of the desperate search for this Gold Statue? Who are the ‘freed guys’ who eventually enjoyed the rewards of the statue? Can there be a single beneficiary of an act of bravery? You have to unravel all these details yourself by visiting the cinema from May 17.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
More than 4.8 million violative videos were removed by TikTok on its platform in Nigeria in the first quarter of 2026, the company’s Q1 2026 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report revealed.
It was disclosed that this number only represents 0.6 per cent of the total number of videos uploaded by the Nigerian TikTok community between January and March 2026.
Analysis showed that 99.8 per cent of the violating content was detected and removed before it was reported by users, while 92.8 per cent of violating content was removed within 24 hours of being posted.
Globally, TikTok yanked off over 184 million videos in the period under review, representing only 0.5 per cent of the total number of videos uploaded on TikTok.
Also, TikTok said it strengthened its anti-spam policy by removing about 118,000 pieces of content in Nigeria under the policy for edited media and AI-generated content (AIGC), while more than 86 million fake accounts were deleted globally.
Further, more than three billion videos have now been labelled as AI-generated content using TikTok’s combination of Content Credentials, creator disclosure tools and invisible watermarking technology, marking a significant milestone in helping people better understand when content has been created or significantly edited using AI.
It no doubt that AI is opening up exciting new opportunities for creativity and storytelling, but as technology evolves, it can also be misused to mass-produce spam that crowds out original creators and undermines trust.
To stay ahead of these evolving challenges, TikTok is testing enhanced detection systems designed to identify accounts dedicated to posting AI-generated spam.
To sanitise its platform, especially as regards TikTok LIVE, efforts have been made to collaborate with local government organisations, such as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), as well as civil society organisations, ensuring a coordinated and robust response to any potential challenges.
In three months, TikTok suspended 120,000 LIVE sessions in Nigeria for violating Community Guidelines, 40,000 more than in the previous reporting period, proving that the platform has bolstered safety measures.
Globally, more than 58 million LIVE enforcement actions were taken, including the suspension of 50,791,858 LIVE sessions and warnings or demonetisation for 21,966,667 LIVE creators for violating policies.
Warnings serve as an opportunity to educate creators when their content may breach LIVE monetisation policies, allowing them to make necessary changes.
TikTok also emphasises its commitment to keeping the TikTok LIVE experience safe. These efforts include a continuous focus on interrupting violating streams and executing monetisation enforcement actions (both demonetisation and warnings).
TikTok says it remains committed to providing greater visibility into its enforcement efforts through its Community Guidelines Enforcement Reports. As part of this commitment, it has refreshed the design and usability of its reports, making them easier for users to navigate and understand.
Showbiz
Former BBNaija Housemates Reflect on Life, Growth, Success Beyond the Show at Season 11 Media Launch
Big Brother Naija’s evolution from a reality show into a platform for creativity, entrepreneurship and career growth took centre stage at the Media Launch for season 11 on Wednesday, 15 July 2026. Former housemates Uriel, Doyin, Kola and DJ Flo reflected on how the show helped shape their careers while sharing the lessons they have learnt navigating life after reality television.
During the conversation, the former housemates agreed that while Big Brother Naija gave them visibility and opened doors, building successful careers after the show has required intentionality, consistency and a willingness to evolve beyond their reality television personas.
Doyin David from Season 7 Level Up and Season 8 All Stars shared one of the day’s most personal reflections, revealing that her biggest lesson began while she was still in the house.
“One of my biggest lessons actually started in the House. Watching myself back made me realise I did not know myself as much as I thought I did.”
She explained that finding a balance between her personal life and her public brand was a gradual process.
“As for balancing my personal life and my brand, it did not happen immediately after the show. I had to learn along the way, make mistakes, grow from them and eventually find that balance.”
Uriel Oputa from Season 2 See Gobbe and Season 8 All Stars spoke about building a career around wellness, explaining that her passion for healthy living did not begin after the show but became more visible because of the platform Big Brother Naija provided.
“I did not have to find a balance because healthy living is already my lifestyle. It is what I do every day. It is not something I switch on or off because of the entertainment industry; it is simply who I am.”
Flora Chiedo, popularly known as DJ Flo from Season 9 No Loose Guard, emphasised that while Big Brother Naija creates opportunities, success ultimately depends on what housemates do after leaving the House.
“Vision without execution is just hallucination. The show gives you an opportunity, but it does not do the work for you. You have to come out here and put in extra work every day.”
Kola Omotosho, Season 10 10/10 housemate, echoed the sentiment, describing Big Brother Naija as a valuable platform that gave him visibility while stressing that passion, drive and consistency are essential for staying relevant.
“Big Brother Naija gave me visibility, and I am grateful for that. But staying relevant requires passion, drive and consistency.”
The discussion reinforced one of the defining impacts of Big Brother Naija over the years. Beyond entertainment, the show has continued to serve as a launching pad for creatives, entrepreneurs and entertainers, providing contestants with the visibility to pursue careers across different industries. As the former housemates’ experiences have shown, the platform opens the door, but sustained success depends on what each individual chooses to build from the opportunity.
Big Brother Naija Season 11 premieres on Sunday, 26 July 2026, with the live launch show airing from 7:00 p.m. on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Family. The season marks betPawa’s debut as the Headline Sponsor, while House of Guinness joins as the Gold Sponsor and Minimie returns as the Associate Sponsor. Hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the 24-hour live show will air on DStv Channel 198 and GOtv Channel 49. Fans can also watch the show live via DStv and GOtv Stream.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Popular Nigerian singer, Niniola Apata, professionally known as Niniola, has revealed that becoming a young widow has been one of the most difficult experiences of her life, reflecting on the demise of her heartthrob, Mr Michael Ndika.
In an emotional message on X on Sunday, marking two months since his sudden and unexpected death, the music star disclosed that she initially intended to record a video message but found herself unable to get through it because of the overwhelming emotions.
“Today makes it two months since my husband, business manager and best friend, Michael, was very suddenly and unexpectedly taken from me and truly, from us,” she wrote.
Niniola admitted that although she lost her father at a young age, nothing had prepared her for the reality of widowhood. She described the grieving process as “hard” and “exceedingly difficult,” saying some days are manageable while others are “painfully indescribable.”
The singer spoke candidly about the unanswered questions and unfinished conversations left behind, adding that she has struggled to find the words to express the depth of her emotions.
Despite her grief, Niniola said her faith has remained her anchor, noting that God continues to reassure her of His presence even during moments of doubt.
She also expressed profound appreciation to family, friends, fans, colleagues, media organisations and well-wishers for their prayers, messages and unwavering support since Michael’s passing.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to you all for your outpouring of love, your kind words, prayers, thoughtful messages and posts. I do not know how I will ever repay each and every one of you, but please know that I am truly and sincerely grateful,” she wrote.
Before his death, Mr Ndika was the chief executive of a multimedia platform focused on Afro-house and contemporary African music known as NaijaReview.
Niniola is the older sibling of another famous entertainer, Teni.
