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God Forced Me to Remarry Months After My Wife’s Death–Apostle Madubuko

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By Dipo Olowookere

When General Overseer of Revival Assembly Church in Lagos, Apostle Anselm Madubuko, decided to remarry some months after the death of his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Connie Madubuko, in 2012, many people castigated him.

However, in an interview with The Punch, the cleric claimed God forced him to remarry very fast.

According to the man of God, he never had the intention of taking another wife.

Apostle Madubuko also said when he remarried, many single ladies and married woman pestering him for marriage left his church.

He also talked about other issues, including fatherhood.

How would you describe fatherhood?

I believe fatherhood is an assignment given by God to some people on earth. When one begins to understand that fatherhood is a godly assignment, then such person takes it seriously.

Personally, there is nothing like being a father because it keeps reminding me of my Heavenly father. It is not an easy assignment, but I see it as a privilege to be a father.

What has been your biggest challenge as a father?

The biggest challenge any good father faces is when your kids are not living up to your expectations. Everyone, including God, has expectations from people. God expects us that at a certain age, we should be able to do certain things. I believe that when we are not doing all those things, He is not happy.

How many children are you blessed with?

I have three kids, but spiritually, I have many kids. My first child is a boy, followed by two girls. I have two grandchildren.I have always prayed to God to give me good kids. I didn’t care about the sex. This is a thing people should know about. For me, the important thing is for the kids to be taken care of because they are God’s gifts.

Were you scared when you wanted to start a family?

I got married quite early at 26. I was 28 when I had my first kid. At that point, I wanted to get married. I was not bothered about anything because I knew God was in charge. I have learnt in life never to worry about things I cannot control.

Why did you marry at 26?

I cannot really say. I had completed university education and I became born again. If I was not saved by God, I am not sure I would have married when I did. When I gave my life to Christ at 25, everything about me changed completely and I had nothing else to do but to get married.

How did you meet your wife?

My late wife was working in a computer firm in Ikoyi, Lagos. We ran into each other on a particular day and we became good friends. After I got saved, she became my first convert to Christ.

Did your wife play hard to get when you showed interest in her?

Those days, women were not a problem for me and I had a very good relationship with women.

Were you in the labour room with your wife during the birth of any of your children?

I always didn’t want to experience it and I tried to avoid it. I couldn’t even follow my wife to the hospital to get an injection; I couldn’t imagine seeing her go through pains. I made sure I was not around whenever she wanted to give birth.

How did you feel while carrying your first child?

It was a mixed feeling. I was thankful to God for the child but I also knew more responsibilities had come too. When she gave birth to our first child, I was in Lagos but not in the hospital.

How do you reward your children anytime they make you happy?

It depends on what is happening at that moment. When my kids were in the university, I made sure they were comfortable and promised to get them a car or other things once they did well. I tried to keep to my own part of the bargain.How did you punish them for wrongdoing when they were young?

I did not punish them but their mother did. She was the person who trained them and she was strong enough for them. Most cases, she would have dealt with them before telling me what they did wrong. I didn’t always punish them because I felt children should not be punished twice for a crime. Though there were a few cases I talked to them, I cannot remember using the cane on any of my children. I do not say it is good or bad to discipline children, but I didn’t do it.

How do you manage your roles as a pastor and father?

I have not done it well. I ended up leaving my kids with their mother while they were growing up. I was always travelling to one place or the other. Growing up, they knew their mother more than their father. That is my regret. I was busy working for God. Given another chance, I would wish to balance things in a way that my children would not suffer my absence. I have tried my best to correct my mistakes as they grew older and they aren’t doing badly now.

What did you learn from your father which is now useful in training your children?

My father taught my siblings and me how to be satisfied in life. That is why we are not greedy people in my family. Growing up, we were happy with whatever God gave us. We didn’t covet others’ blessing. I have inculcated this in my kids. I always tell them to be thankful to God and never to get too anxious about the next day, as God has promised to take care of tomorrow once they work hard.

How would you describe your father?

He was a nice and quiet man. He didn’t drink, smoke or party.

When was your happiest moment as a father?

That would be when my first daughter gave birth in the United States of America three years ago. I couldn’t explain the excitement and I cannot forget that day.

What event do you consider as the low moment of your life?

I have had many low moments in my life. I felt terrible when I lost my father and mother. My father died at 70. I didn’t expect him to die when he died. For me, I consider anyone who dies at 70 a young person. Ninety is the best age to die.My father was there for me all my life; he sacrificed a lot for his kids. But before he died, I was not in a position to do much for him. However, my mother lived above 90. She had a good life.

Why didn’t you take your wife’s death as the low point of your life?

As stated before, I have many low points. But when my father died, I felt worst than my wife’s death. I cannot explain why it appeared so.

When did your wife die?

She died in 2012. I didn’t expect her to die when she did and I was not in the country. I left Nigeria on a Wednesday night and we still spoke when I got to the airport. The next thing I heard on Friday was that she had passed on.

What caused her death?

She was not sick; it was a sudden death. If she had been ill, I wouldn’t have left her. As a strong woman that she was, she didn’t show signs of weakness as well. Our family doctor of over 25 years did his best but told me there was no life in her any longer.I was more confused than annoyed when I heard the news of my wife’s death. I was too shocked to feel anything. She was in her 50s when she died; we were age mates. The only time I felt bad was the day of her burial as it dawned on me that she was really dead. But before then, I kept thinking she would wake up because she was really a strong woman. I couldn’t go to the mortuary to see her, but I had to see her during the lying-in-state.

How did you comfort your children during the period?

My children are strong kids. They had all finished their university education in Canada when their mother died. We are a free and happy family. Whenever we are together, they don’t relate to me as their father.

How did your children react to your decision to remarry?

My children were happy when I told them I wanted to remarry. They knew I would be in the hands of a good woman. When my wife died, they didn’t want me to be left alone; they were always checking on me. In a way, I was disturbing them because they couldn’t live a day without worrying about me.But it was God who told me to remarry even though I did not take another wife. I even said it on the pulpit that I would not remarry. But God, who saw things I didn’t see, told me I must marry and marry fast. Now, I know why He said it and I thanked God I followed His direction.

Were you not worried that people could condemn you for remarrying a year after your wife’s death?

Of course, my decision to remarry generated a lot of attention from the public but I don’t care about such a thing. When my heart doesn’t condemn me, I don’t care. I don’t need to impress everyone. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone because I owe only God my life. Those close to me knew I was led by God.When my wife passed on, every woman wanted to marry me. I was getting text messages from different women, who were telling me that God told them I was their husband. I got messages from members of my church and other women. If I had stayed unmarried for two years, I cannot imagine what would have happened to me. When I finally remarried, many single women and even married ones left the church. This is not a joke; it happened. I thank God I didn’t promise anyone marriage or was dating anyone; I didn’t owe anyone anything. Also, I didn’t need to marry anyone recommended to me.

Why did you settle for a Kenyan when you had many options?

I knew the lady many years ago when I went to preach in Mombasa, Kenya. Then, my first wife was still alive and I told my friend that I liked the way she sang and carried herself. They spoke well about her and told me her father was a bishop. Later, I invited her team to Nigeria to sing in my church and people loved them. At that point, there was nothing between us.But many people believed we were having a secret affair even when my wife was alive, but I didn’t go out with her or touch her until we married. I also admired the fact that she did not trouble me for marriage like many others.

How did she react when you told her about your marriage plans?

When I told her I wanted to marry her, she felt it was strange. I was yet to know her well too. She told me I was too old for her. She said I was more like a mentor. It was God who convinced her and her family. How many fathers would allow their daughters to go to Nigeria for marriage? They read many negative things about us daily. Also, she was a single and young lady while I was a widower with three kids. There are many things that didn’t make sense naturally. But her father is a man of God and God touched him. I thank God it was her because I couldn’t have chosen anyone better.

What comes to mind when you read negative things about you?

I don’t bother myself about what people say about me because it is part of life. It was reported that I was having an affair with an artiste’s wife but he is my son and still worships in my church. Nothing can break me; gossips mean nothing to me. They are people who do not like me for reasons best known to them and they will always look for opportunities to tarnish my image.

How do you advise children without fathers?

God has plans for everyone. If you don’t have a father, kindly take God as your father and look for a mentor. When your biological father dies, you should pray to God to give you a good father that will love and guide you. When you have good parents, it is hard for you to join cultism or pick up other vices. These things are devil’s ways to destroy destinies. If you look around now, most kids are into one bad society or the other. If your parents are not godly, it is dangerous.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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How Entertainment Quietly Escaped the Living Room

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Living Room entertainment

The living room used to be run by a quiet dictatorship: one television, one remote, and an entire household constantly fighting for control. That hierarchy didn’t just organise entertainment; it defined it. Now it’s gone. Not because television disappeared, but because it stopped being contained. At the centre of this shift is on-demand access, and it has completely rewritten viewing behaviour.

Streaming platforms, smart TVs, and mobile apps have removed the idea of “waiting for something to come on.” Content no longer asks for your time; you give it fragments of your attention whenever it fits. A commute becomes an episode. A lunch break becomes a binge. A late-night scroll becomes a full viewing session you didn’t plan for. Entertainment isn’t scheduled anymore. It’s ambient.

Where Traditional TV Didn’t Die, It Adapted

Here’s the part people often miss: broadcast television didn’t lose the fight; it changed tactics. Platforms like DStv and GOtv Africa didn’t just sit back and watch streaming take over. They adapted by merging the old reliability of curated channels with the flexibility audiences now expect.

Live sports still pull people into real-time viewing. Reality shows still create shared moments. But now those same experiences can move with the viewer through mobile access and digital extensions that keep the screen from being tied to one place. The decoder is no longer the endpoint. It’s just one entry point.

Televisions aren’t just televisions anymore; they’re control centres. Your screen now talks to your speakers, your phone, your console, even your lights. A single command can dim the room, switch inputs, and drop you straight into a match or a movie. The experience is no longer “watching TV.” It’s entering an environment. Entertainment has quietly stopped being passive.

Everyone Is Now a Broadcaster

Content creation has also been completely flattened. You don’t need a studio anymore, just a phone, a decent idea, and enough consistency to survive the algorithm. High-end production still exists, but it now shares the same battlefield with short-form clips filmed in bedrooms, cars, and street corners.

People don’t just watch anymore. They react, remix, argue, quote, and push content into new spaces. A clip isn’t finished when it ends; it’s finished when the internet is done with it. That shift has turned entertainment into something closer to a live conversation than a finished product.

Nigeria’s Hybrid Reality

In markets like Nigeria, the change is not replacement; it’s layering. Global streaming platforms sit alongside established broadcasters like DStv and GOtv in the same household, often on the same devices. One moment it’s a curated channel lineup. Next, it’s YouTube, Netflix, or a TikTok feed.

Sports nights still bring families together around live TV. At the same time, everyone in that same room is also watching something else on a second screen. Coexistence isn’t a transition phase here; it’s the new normal.

Ultimately, technology has not killed traditional entertainment; it has expanded it. The living room is no longer the only stage. It now includes mobile screens, smart devices, and cloud platforms. And as innovation continues, the question is no longer “what’s on TV tonight?” but “what do I feel like watching right now?”

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MasterChef Nigeria Fire, Flavour and Fabulous Fads

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MasterChef Nigeria Chef Fads

White Apron Day brought pizza drama, pasta pressure and a Dish of the Day performance worthy of applause

It was White Apron Day in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen — which meant nobody was going home. But make no mistake, this was not a day off.

With elimination off the menu, creativity took centre stage as the contestants were challenged to bring two worlds together in one unforgettable feast. Their task? Create two Afro-Italian dishes — Italian favourites reimagined with a proudly Nigerian twist.

From rich sauces to bold spices, fresh dough to fearless flavour combinations, the home cooks had 90 minutes to prove that Nigerian ingredients and Italian classics can speak the same delicious language. And as always in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen, the contestants were running against the clock.

Even though nobody would be packing their knives, the competition was still piping hot. Up for grabs was the Dish of the Day title — and a dream prize for any pizza lover: an Ooni pizza oven.

Pizza quickly became the star of the conversation. Loved across the world and made to be shared, pizza is the ultimate social food — the kind of dish that brings friends together, fills a table, and starts a debate before the first slice is even taken.

Chef Stone made it clear that he is all about a thick, satisfying pizza base, while Chef Eros stood firmly on the side of a thin, crisp base. Thick or thin, soft or crunchy, classic or reinvented — the contestants had to find their own way to impress.

But for the judges, the biggest concern was clear: the dough. A pizza can have the boldest toppings and the most exciting Nigerian twist, but if the base is not right, the whole dish falls flat. The contestants had to prove they understood that great pizza starts long before it reaches the oven.

The pasta dish brought its own pressure. It was not enough to simply add Nigerian flavour to an Italian favourite; the home cooks had to elevate the dish to true MasterChef quality. The judges were looking for refinement, balance, technique and a plate that felt worthy of the competition.

And then came the extra drama: fire in the kitchen.

Isabella had a fiery moment with the pizza oven, while Favy faced separate fire drama at her bench. But fear not, Chef Stone came to the rescue, proving that even on White Apron Day, the kitchen can still bring the heat in more ways than one.

Of course, there is another kind of danger in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen: Chef Eros removing his glasses. That is never a casual move. It is the clearest sign that he does not approve of what he is tasting.

Unfortunately for David and Isabella, both experienced the glasses-off moment. Chef Eros was not impressed with what they served, and the message was loud without needing to be shouted.

Favy also had a serious setback when she served uncooked mussels in her pasta — a mistake that could have cost her dearly on an elimination day. However, while the mussels missed the mark, the judges still enjoyed the overall flavours of her dish.

But the standout of the day belonged to Fads.

Her pizza and pasta impressed the judges the most, earning praise as restaurant-ready, delicious, classy, elegant and beautiful. It was the kind of plate that showed confidence, control and creativity — and it even earned her a round of applause from Chef Eros.

Newly named “Fabulous Fads” by Chef Eros, Fads walked away with Dish of the Day, the Ooni pizza oven and serious bragging rights.

Nobody went home, but the Afro-Italian challenge still delivered fire, flavour, pressure and a winning performance to remember.

Next week, the safety of the white apron is gone.  The Top 4 will be cooking in black aprons, which means one contestant will be eliminated.

With only three coveted spots left in the competition, every dish, every decision and every mistake could change everything. The remaining home cooks will be fighting for a place in the Top 3 — and moving one step closer to the 73 million grand prize and the title of MasterChef Nigeria.

The show airs weekly on Sundays at 7 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Family, with rebroadcasts on Wednesdays at 6 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Thursdays at 12 pm on Africa Magic Family.

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Davido’s World Cup 2026 Performance Reached 3.92 billion People Across 156 Countries

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davido world cup performance
What began as a performance on one of the world’s biggest stages has evolved into a global communications phenomenon that demonstrates the growing power of African storytelling, purpose-driven advocacy and reputation-led influence.

A newly released Media Intelligence Report by P+ Measurement Services reveals that Nigerian music icon Davido’s participation during the FIFA World Cup 2026 generated extraordinary levels of global media attention, audience engagement and positive sentiment, transforming a cultural performance into a worldwide conversation about unity, hope, justice and African influence.

The report analysed media coverage, public conversations and stakeholder engagement generated between June 10 and June 20, 2026, across print, online, broadcast and social media platforms worldwide. Beyond measuring visibility, the analysis examined the broader reputation implications of the campaign and its impact across traditional media ecosystems, digital communities and emerging AI-powered discovery environments.

According to the report, Davido generated approximately 1.48 million media mentions globally within the ten-day reporting period, reaching an estimated audience of 3.92 billion people and producing 6.78 billion impressions across media channels. Social conversations exceeded 432,700 discussions while total engagements surpassed 54.3 million interactions, highlighting one of the most impactful African entertainment-led communication moments recorded on the global stage in recent years.

The report found that public response to the performance was overwhelmingly favourable. Positive sentiment accounted for 89 per cent of all measured conversations, while neutral conversations represented only 2 per cent. Negative and strongly negative narratives combined accounted for less than 1 per cent of total discussions, indicating widespread approval not only of the performance itself but also of the underlying message embedded within the campaign.

At the centre of the conversation was Davido’s “Bring Them Home” message, which drew international attention to the plight of abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oyo State. Rather than positioning the performance solely as entertainment, the campaign successfully integrated advocacy into one of the world’s largest cultural and sporting platforms.

The report suggests that this strategic combination of entertainment, social purpose and national storytelling significantly contributed to the scale and quality of media attention generated globally. In an era where audiences increasingly reward authenticity and meaningful narratives, the campaign demonstrated how celebrity influence can be leveraged to drive conversations that extend beyond music and popular culture.

One of the most significant findings of the report is the geographic diversity of the audience reached. While Nigeria remained a major contributor to conversations surrounding the performance, the United States emerged as the largest international market by reach, accounting for approximately 16 per cent of global visibility. Nigeria contributed 15 per cent, followed by the United Kingdom, Canada, Ghana, South Africa, France, Brazil, Germany and India.

The presence of conversations across 156 countries underscores the increasingly global nature of African cultural influence. It also reinforces the growing capacity of African creatives to shape narratives that resonate across continents and cultural boundaries.

For Nigeria, the findings provide further evidence that entertainment continues to function as one of the country’s most powerful soft power assets. While governments often invest heavily in national branding campaigns, the report indicates that cultural exports such as music, film and creative storytelling remain among the most effective vehicles for shaping international perception and projecting national influence.

The analysis further reveals that social media served as the primary engine of visibility throughout the reporting period. Social platforms generated approximately 1.32 million mentions, representing more than 89 per cent of total conversations recorded. X, formerly Twitter, accounted for the largest share of discussions, followed by Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

The dominance of social media highlights a broader shift in the communications landscape. Traditional media continues to play an important role in validating narratives and extending credibility, but public conversations increasingly originate and gain momentum through digital communities. For brands, institutions and public figures, this reinforces the importance of integrating earned media, influencer engagement and community-driven storytelling within communication strategies.

Online media also recorded significant performance, generating approximately 268,000 mentions and reaching an estimated audience of 1.65 billion people. Coverage was amplified by leading international and regional media organisations, including BBC News, CNN, Reuters, Al Jazeera, The Guardian and several influential African news platforms.

Broadcast media contributed an additional 11,500 mentions with a reach exceeding 452 million people, while print media generated more than 35,000 mentions and reached over 512 million audiences globally.

The report notes that the strength of this performance lies not merely in media volume but in media diversity. Visibility was achieved across multiple platforms, audience segments and geographic regions simultaneously, creating a highly resilient communication ecosystem capable of sustaining attention long after the initial event.

Analysis of audience demographics revealed particularly strong engagement among younger and economically active audiences. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 34 accounted for nearly 58 per cent of all measured social media engagement, reflecting the growing influence of youth-driven digital communities in shaping modern reputation outcomes.

From a communications and public relations perspective, the report identifies the campaign as a compelling case study in strategic narrative management. Traditionally, major sporting events have been viewed primarily as sponsorship and visibility opportunities. However, the Davido World Cup performance illustrates how organisations and personalities can use globally relevant moments to introduce social causes, build emotional connection and drive stakeholder engagement simultaneously.

For communications professionals, the findings reinforce the principle that visibility alone does not create influence. Influence emerges when visibility is supported by relevance, purpose and audience resonance. The campaign’s success demonstrates the effectiveness of aligning advocacy messages with cultural moments capable of generating significant public attention.

For the entertainment industry, the report highlights the increasing importance of purpose-driven storytelling. Audiences are becoming more responsive to artists and creators who leverage their platforms to address societal issues while maintaining authenticity. The performance illustrates how entertainment brands can generate both cultural impact and reputation value when social purpose is integrated into communication efforts.

For government institutions and policymakers, the findings offer important lessons regarding nation branding. The report suggests that Africa’s creative industries continue to represent one of the continent’s strongest tools for shaping international perception. As countries compete for tourism, investment and global relevance, cultural ambassadors such as musicians, filmmakers and creators are increasingly becoming key contributors to national reputation.

The report also presents significant implications for the public relations industry itself. As measurement frameworks evolve beyond traditional metrics such as impressions and advertising value equivalency, communications professionals are being challenged to evaluate influence through more sophisticated indicators, including sentiment quality, audience engagement, narrative ownership, stakeholder resonance and AI discoverability.

One of the report’s most forward-looking findings concerns performance within AI-powered information environments. An assessment of leading generative search and AI discovery platforms found exceptionally strong visibility for the campaign across ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, Claude AI and Microsoft Copilot.

Visibility scores ranged from 89 to 92 per cent across the evaluated platforms, indicating strong representation of campaign narratives within AI-generated responses and emerging search environments. Associated themes consistently included global impact, unity, humanitarian advocacy, African culture and Davido’s performance.

This development is particularly significant because reputation management is entering a new era where discoverability within AI systems increasingly influences public understanding. As users rely more on generative AI platforms to access information, organisations must ensure that their narratives are not only visible in traditional media but also accurately represented within AI-powered search and discovery ecosystems.

The report concludes that Davido’s World Cup 2026 performance represents far more than a successful entertainment event. It stands as a powerful example of how African talent can shape global conversations, amplify important social issues and create measurable influence across interconnected media environments.

More importantly, it demonstrates that purpose-driven storytelling, when combined with cultural relevance and strategic communications, can transform a single performance into a global reputation asset.

For PR practitioners, communication strategists, policymakers, marketers and brand leaders, the campaign offers valuable lessons on the future of influence. In a media environment increasingly driven by attention scarcity, algorithmic discovery and AI-generated information, success will belong to those who can create narratives that are not only seen but remembered, shared, trusted and discovered.

As Africa continues to strengthen its voice on the global stage, the findings reinforce a growing reality: the continent is no longer merely participating in global conversations. It is increasingly helping to shape them.

As part of its ongoing commitment to advancing evidence-based communications practice, P+ Measurement Services continues to make industry intelligence, measurement frameworks and media insights available to communications professionals, helping organisations move beyond assumptions and make informed decisions based on data, reputation intelligence and stakeholder understanding. With more than a decade at the forefront of media intelligence and communications measurement in Nigeria, the firm remains committed to strengthening the practice of public relations through research, accountability and meaningful evaluation.

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