By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Popular Nigerian singer, Niniola Apata, professionally known as Niniola, has lost her husband to the cold hands of death.

Niniola confirmed the demise of her heartthrob, Mr Michael Ndika, in a series of posts, including God took my husband, and My husband died, among others.

However, the circumstances behind the death of Mr Ndika were not revealed by the Nigerian afro-house songster.

In the Instagram story on Wednesday morning, the 39-year-old Grammy-nominated entertainer indicated that she had been in a relationship with her late husband for over a decade.

The posts attracted reactions as she was consoled by her teeming fans, who expressed condolences to her for the loss.

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.

This week, the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen turned up the heat as the home cooks faced one of the competition’s most demanding tests yet, the very first team challenge. The team challenge was built around the two ingredients essential to every successful kitchen: leadership and teamwork.

For many, it was unfamiliar territory. Cooking under pressure is one thing, but trusting others, communicating effectively and working together against the ticking clock proved to be an entirely different challenge.

Adding an extra layer of excitement to the challenge, the home cooks were tasked with drawing inspiration from the vibrant and expressive world of Nigerian fashion. To help steer and judge this unique culinary showcase, the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen welcomed renowned fashion expert and founder of Zinkata, Ezinne Chinkata, as guest judge.

Bringing the energy and glamour of the runway into the kitchen, Ezinne introduced eight models fresh from Lagos Fashion Week, setting the stage for a challenge where fashion and food collided in spectacular style.

In a challenge where presentation was just as important as flavour, each team was tasked with creating four dishes inspired by the looks worn by the models. From bold prints and striking colours to intricate textures and silhouettes, every plate had to serve as an edible interpretation of Nigerian fashion, transforming runway style into culinary artistry.

Having secured victory in last week’s challenge, Fads entered the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen with a valuable advantage: the opportunity to select her first teammate. Without hesitation, she chose Demilade, setting the tone for what would become a closely coordinated Red Team.

Made up of Fads, Demilade, Loye and Favy, the Red Team approached the challenge with structure and intention. Under the leadership of Demilade, the team carefully mapped out their menu, ensuring that every dish aligned with the brief and that each home cook had a clearly defined role in bringing their culinary vision to life.

On the other side of the kitchen, the Blue Team — led by David embraced a more free-flowing and instinctive approach to marrying the worlds of fashion and food. However, with differing creative perspectives in the heat of competition, tensions soon surfaced, leading to an unexpected and spirited clash between Isabella and David as the pressure of the challenge mounted.

Despite their challenges, the Blue Team’s organic approach ultimately paid off. Their bold interpretation of the brief impressed the judges, earning them victory and proving that in the MasterChef kitchen, there is more than one recipe for success.

Next week, the members of the Red Team, Demilade, Fads, Loye and Favy enter the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen for the competition’s very first Pressure Test. Who will rise to the occasion and survive the heat — and whose MasterChef journey will come to an end?

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.

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.