The Nigerian entertainment industry continues to make headlines as celebrities open up about their personal lives, career experiences and challenges that come with fame.

From Johnny Drille’s revelation about meeting his wife at Mavin Records to Funke Akindele’s 49th birthday, Tonto Dikeh’s reflections on forgiveness and Timi Dakolo’s warning about online rumours, here are some of the latest stories making waves.

How I Met My Wife at Mavin Records — Johnny Drille

Singer and songwriter Johnny Drille has revealed that he met his wife, Rima Tahini, during his time at Mavin Records, where their relationship began and remained private for years.

Drille made the revelation during an interview on The Right Hand podcast, explaining that the couple started dating around November or December 2018 but kept their romance away from the public until July 2023.

According to the singer, they had already gotten married before publicly announcing their relationship, meaning they had successfully kept their romance private for about five years.

Reflecting on the secrecy surrounding their relationship, Drille said maintaining such privacy required considerable effort.

“I think about it now, and I don’t realise how much work we had to put into it for keeping it on the record for so long,” he said.

He explained that the couple eventually went public in July 2023, about a year and seven months after getting married.

“It wasn’t easy keeping it, but I’m grateful I met my wife at Mavin’s,” Drille added.

I Regret Underestimating Funke Akindele — Bunmi Nelson

Actress Bunmi Nelson has expressed regret over underestimating fellow actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele during the early stages of their careers.

Nelson made the admission during an interview on the Talk to B podcast hosted by actress Biola Adebayo, recalling how she once ignored Akindele’s calls despite having opportunities to work with her.

According to Nelson, Akindele had approached her for a location to shoot a production and even brought veteran actress Mama Fali Werepe to her home in Magodo.

Nelson admitted that she did not realise how far Akindele would eventually go in the entertainment industry.

“If I knew Funke would go far like this, I would have held her tight. Because I can’t even see her back now,” she said.

She said she ignored Akindele’s calls at a time when the industry was less crowded and later realised she had missed a major opportunity.

Nelson also recalled that Akindele encouraged her to join the Yoruba movie industry around 2006 and 2007, an opportunity she said she failed to take.

Reflecting on the experience, she said it taught her the importance of humility and not looking down on people.

“I’m more humble now than anything else because life has taught me the hard way that nothing is constant,” she stated.

Akindele has since become one of Nigeria’s most successful actresses, producers and filmmakers, with several major box-office successes to her name.

Cancer Can Develop Quietly — Aproko Doctor Speaks After Ogogo’s Death

Medical doctor and health educator Dr Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, has warned Nigerians that some cancers can develop silently and may initially produce symptoms that resemble common illnesses.

His comments followed the death of veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who died at the age of 66 after battling stage-four cancer.

In a series of posts on X, Aproko Doctor explained that appearing healthy does not necessarily mean that there is no serious illness developing inside the body.

He also clarified that while an ulcer does not simply turn into cancer, stomach cancer can produce symptoms that people often describe as ulcer.

He therefore urged Nigerians experiencing recurring stomach pain to seek proper medical evaluation rather than repeatedly taking ulcer medication without confirming the cause.

According to him, symptoms such as persistent stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, repeated vomiting, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and feeling unusually full should be properly investigated.

He, however, cautioned people against becoming unnecessarily afraid, stressing that most stomach pain is not caused by cancer.

Ogogo died at about 3pm on Sunday, August 23, 2026, according to a burial announcement by fellow actor Jide Kosoko.

The veteran Yoruba actor had a career spanning more than four decades and appeared in hundreds of films.

Thick Skin Required To Survive Fame — Timi Dakolo

Singer Timi Dakolo has advised people aspiring to become celebrities to develop a “thick skin”, warning that fame often comes with intense public scrutiny and online rumours.

Dakolo gave the advice after a photograph of him carrying a little girl at an event circulated online, with some social media users claiming that the child was his “love child”.

Explaining the situation, the singer said he only carried the girl because she refused to return to her mother and he ended up looking after her during the event.

He expressed frustration that the innocent moment was turned into a rumour online.

Dakolo said celebrities could wake up to damaging stories about themselves despite doing nothing wrong.

He therefore urged those seeking fame to prepare for the pressure and criticism that often come with being in the public eye.

“Grow a thick skin if you desire fame. You will definitely need it,” he said.

Funke Akindele at 49: Seven Things To Know About Nollywood’s Box-Office Queen

Nollywood actress, filmmaker and producer Funke Akindele celebrated her 49th birthday on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Born in Ikorodu, Lagos State, in 1977, Akindele has spent nearly three decades in the entertainment industry, rising from television acting to becoming one of Nigeria’s most successful filmmakers.

She first gained wider recognition for her role as Bisi in the United Nations-sponsored television series Need to Know, which ran from 1997 to 2002.

Akindele studied Mass Communication at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic before proceeding to the University of Lagos to study Law.

Her career took a major turn after the success of Jenifa in 2008, in which she played the lead character. The role became so closely associated with her that “Jenifa” became synonymous with the actress.

She later expanded her career into producing, directing and writing. Her 2023 film A Tribe Called Judah became the first Nigerian film to cross the ₦1 billion mark at the domestic box office.

Akindele has also won several major awards, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and multiple Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.

Beyond entertainment, she ventured into politics in 2022 when she was selected as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party’s Lagos governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, for the 2023 election.

My Reconciliation With Churchill Helped 10 Women Reconcile With Their Partners — Tonto Dikeh

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has revealed that her reconciliation with her former husband, Olakunle Churchill, has inspired several women to seek peace in their own relationships.

Dikeh said in a social media post that hundreds of women had reached out to her after her reconciliation with Churchill, asking how she was able to forgive and move forward.

She said she could not respond to everyone but chose to assist women whose experiences reminded her of her own.

According to the actress, at least 10 women have since reconciled with their partners, with some working towards healthier co-parenting and restoring peace in their homes.

Dikeh described forgiveness as a powerful tool for personal healing and encouraged people holding on to bitterness to consider letting go.

She also prayed for women seeking peace, healing and restoration in their families.

“Where Una Dey Collect The Face?” — Toyin Lawani Questions Lagos Women

Celebrity fashion designer Toyin Lawani has questioned what she described as the growing similarity in the facial features of some women in Lagos.

Lawani raised the issue in a video shared online, pointing to what she said was an increasing trend among women, particularly those she referred to as “Lagos baddies”.

According to her, many women now appear to have similar features, including long jaws and plump lips.

“There is something going on in Lagos. Everybody is starting to look alike,” she said.

Lawani jokingly asked where the women were getting the similar facial features from, adding that the trend had become increasingly noticeable.

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