By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The director of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Mr Jess Castellote, has described museums as not only cultural institutions, but strategic drivers of tourism, education, and national identity.

He said this when the facility welcomed a delegation of the board of trustees and governing council of the Eko Tourism Foundation (ETF) on May 11, 2026.

The visiting team was led by the former Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed. The visit reinforced the growing alignment and importance of art, heritage, and the creative economy to Lagos State’s ambitions of becoming a global cultural tourism hub.

Mr Castellote described the visit as a strong affirmation of the museum’s growing relevance within Nigeria’s tourism and cultural landscape.

“YSMA was founded with the vision of preserving Nigerian art and making it accessible to the public through learning and engagement. To see this vision align so naturally with Lagos State’s broader cultural tourism aspirations is both relevant and encouraging,” he enthused.

The Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Enase Okonedo, in her remarks, stressed the importance of partnerships that connect education, culture, and public impact.

“At Pan-Atlantic University, we strongly believe that universities must contribute meaningfully to society beyond the classroom,” she remarked.

“The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art embodies that commitment by serving as a centre for education, cultural preservation, and community engagement. We commend ETF for the excellent work they are doing.

“Collaborations and visits of this nature strengthen the role of both the university and the museum within the wider vision of Lagos as a globally competitive cultural capital,” the university don stated.

In his speech, Mr Mohammed underscored the role of culture as the foundation of sustainable tourism and described YSMA as one of the kinds of institutions capable of reshaping how the world sees Lagos and Nigeria.

“Tourism thrives on identity, memory, and authentic experiences, and institutions like the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art are central to that vision,” he said.

“Lagos cannot aspire to global cultural relevance without investing in and promoting places that preserve our stories, celebrate our creativity, and project the richness of our heritage to the world. What has been built here at YSMA represents exactly the kind of cultural destination that belongs on the itinerary of every visitor to Lagos,” he added.

The former Minister donated copies of his recent book, Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration, to the Pan-Atlantic University Library.

Established in 2019 as Nigeria’s first purpose-built and privately funded university museum, YSMA is evolving into one of West Africa’s most important cultural institutions, combining a globally significant art collection with educational and community-enriching programming.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Social media giant, Facebook, is celebrating the 2026 Africa Day on May 25 in a bid way through the launch of the sixth edition of its pan-African campaign, ‘Made by Africa, loved by the world: Where stories spark community.’

This year’s focus is on African cinema, and it features five talents from the sector, who are Kehinde Bankole (Nigeria), Linda Mtoba (South Africa), Nomzamo Mbatha (South Africa), Osas Ighodaro (Nigeria), and Tobi Bakre (Nigeria).

The campaign features a five-part vodcast series profiling these five internationally acclaimed actors and filmmakers, hosted by leading African podcasters, I Said What I Said (Nigeria), and Because We Said So (South Africa).

Each episode explores the talent’s creative journey, global impact, and how they use Facebook to build communities and connect with fans worldwide.

Vodcast snippets will be available on the Meta Africa Facebook page, with full episodes on the I Said What I Said and Because We Said So podcasts and talent profiles.

Speaking about the campaign, Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director, Africa, Middle East & Turkey at Meta, said: “For six years, Made by Africa has spotlighted talent from across the continent making a mark globally. This year, film takes centre stage. From Nollywood to South African cinema, African stories are reaching audiences worldwide, and Facebook is at the heart of how people come together around cultural moments like these. This campaign backs the filmmakers driving that momentum.”

Also, the hosts of I Said What I Said, FK Abudu & Jola Ayeye, said, “We’re excited about this partnership and the chance to collaborate with Facebook in celebrating Africa Day with other brilliant African creatives. Being able to spotlight creators with global impact feels incredibly special to us, and we look forward to more partnerships and opportunities to champion African creativity.”

Also, the anchors of Because We Said So, Zama Marubelela & Landzy Gama, said, “As young African content creators, we’re passionate about celebrating African excellence, identity, and culture through honest and relatable conversations. Having Nomzamo Mbatha and Linda Mtoba on Because We Said So made this collaboration with Meta even more special, as they both continue to represent Africa on a global stage while sharing authentic African stories with the world. We’re excited to amplify these voices and be part of a campaign that celebrates African talent, creativity, and storytelling on a global scale.”

The MasterChef Nigeria kitchen is no stranger to unexpected twists — and this week delivered one of its biggest surprises yet. 

In a dramatic turn of events, previously eliminated home cooks Fads, Pearl and Margaret were given an extraordinary second chance: a shot at redemption and an opportunity to fight their way back into the competition.

With a place back in the MasterChef kitchen — and a chance to compete for the life-changing ₦73 million prize — on the line, the trio faced a high-pressure Redemption Challenge centred around one deceptively simple ingredient: eggs.

Tasked with mastering three culinary fundamentals in just 10 minutes, the contestants had to deliver the perfect poached egg, boiled egg and omelette — a challenge designed to test precision, timing and technical skill under immense pressure.

In a dramatic cook-off, it was Fads who rose to the occasion, impressing the judges with her execution and earning her place back in the MasterChef kitchen. For Pearl and Margaret, however, the challenge marked the end of their MasterChef journey, as they bid farewell to the competition for good.

True to the spirit of MasterChef Nigeria, the competition was far from over. The Top 8 immediately faced another challenge — a celebration of the Staples of Success — where culinary skill met high stakes. With an impressive ₦2 million up for grabs, the home cooks had yet another opportunity to prove themselves in the MasterChef kitchen.

The arrival of the white apron cook was met with excitement in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen, as the home cooks embraced the moment with enthusiasm and ambition.

However, while some rose to the occasion, others struggled to meet the judges’ exacting standards.

Derry’s dish was dealt a major setback when her chicken was found to be undercooked. David’s red chilli starter and roasted chicken main failed to deliver the impact the judges had hoped for and overwhelmed by emotion, Favy faced a challenge of her own when her panna cotta refused to set, forcing her to rethink her dish under pressure.

Demilade impressed the judges with a standout combination of Potato Crisps and a creative Plantain Split, showcasing both confidence and flair in the kitchen. Fads, meanwhile, delivered a remarkable comeback with her comforting yet elevated take on Yam Chips and Potato Soup — a dish that earned high praise from the judges. Clearly impressed, Chef Eros described Fads’ creation as “restaurant ready.”

Demilade and Fads rose above the competition to secure coveted spots in the Top 2, earning themselves a shot at the ₦2 million prize.

In the end, it was Fads who claimed Dish of the Day, completing an impressive comeback story as she walked away with ₦2 million and renewed confidence in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen.

Next week, tensions rise as the Top 8 take on a high-pressure Fashion Challenge, with the MasterChef kitchen also welcoming special guest judge Ezinne Chinkata.

Produced by Primedia Group, MasterChef Nigeria is supported by a strong coalition of leading Nigerian brands, including headline sponsor Power Oil, alongside Indomie, Dano Milk, Malta Guinness, Sonia Tomato, Kiara Rice, Golden Penny Flour, Golden Penny Sugar, Golden Penny Garri, Golden Penny Semolina, Golden Penny Chocolate Spread, and Golden Penny Wheat.

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.