News
Breaking: Onyeka Onwenu Dies After Collapsing at Lagos Birthday Party
On Tuesday night, a somber incident occurred at a birthday celebration in Lagos involving the celebrated singer Onyeka Onwenu.
The renowned artist, widely admired for her contributions to music, tragically collapsed and passed away shortly after delivering a performance at the event.
Onwenu was attending a private birthday party for Dr. Stella Chinyelu Okoli, the CEO of Emzor Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company.
Following her performance, which was met with acclaim, she returned to her seat. It was at this point that she suddenly lost consciousness.
Despite immediate efforts from emergency services, who swiftly transported her to Reddington Hospital in Lagos, her life could not be saved. The exact cause of her death remains undisclosed at this time.
Onyeka Onwenu, an influential figure in Nigeria’s entertainment landscape, was affectionately known as the ‘Elegant Stallion.’
Her sudden passing has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting her significant role not only as a musician but also as an activist and public servant.
Beyond her illustrious music career, Onwenu was deeply involved in political and cultural advocacy.
She held prominent positions, including Chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
Earlier this year, Onwenu had announced an exciting new project: a film that would recount her extensive journey through the music industry over several decades.
She had expressed enthusiasm about sharing her personal narrative and reflecting on the evolution of Nigerian music.
Additionally, Onwenu had planned to collaborate with emerging artists to release a compilation of her classic hits, reimagined for a contemporary audience, with the release slated for later in the year.
Onwenu, born on May 31, 1952, was a multifaceted talent whose career spanned more than forty years.
Her musical repertoire, which included genres such as highlife, reggae, and pop, often tackled social and political themes. Her notable songs include “One Love,” “Iyogogo,” and “Ekwe.”
At the time of her passing, it is unclear whether her planned documentary or the reworked compilation of her music had been completed.
The loss of Onyeka Onwenu is deeply felt, as she leaves behind a legacy of artistic and social contributions that will continue to resonate.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
“You Have to Vote Right” — Timaya Speaks on Nigeria’s Political Future
Rema Names His Favourite Streamers for Entertainment, Fans React
