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Wike Praises Burna Boy’s Exploits As Pride Of Rivers
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has praised the exceptional exploits of Grammy award-winning Afrobeat artiste, Burna Boy, real name Damini Ogulu, as the pride of the state.
Wike made this assertion when Burna Boy, his parents and management team paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday.
The governor said the state was proud of Burna Boy for the rare distinction of becoming a winner of the prestigious Grammy Award.
“There is no Rivers person that will say he or she is not happy with the kind of pride you’ve brought us. I am very happy, and I can tell you, whatever you think we can do to promote you, we will continue to do it.”
Wike congratulated Burna Boy for the honour he has done to the people of the state all over the world, and explained that when news broke that Burna Boy was the winner in the Best Global Music Album category with his ‘Twice As Tall’ album, the entire state was elated.
“You’ve done us proud, and we owe you a duty to show you love. Wherever you are, your people appreciate you,” the governor said.
The governor urged Burna Boy not to relent in his musical endeavour as the state government would continue to give him all the necessary support he requires.
Earlier, Burna Boy had said he was deeply grateful and incredibly humbled by the reception and honour conferred on him by the Government of Rivers State.
“I really appreciate being here. This is probably the biggest honour that will be bestowed on me since I was born. It is one thing to win the Grammy, and to be applauded everywhere else in the world, and another thing to be loved in your own home, and that, to me, is worth more than anything I can get. So, I appreciate you my governor for taking your time out to do this”, he said.
It would be recalled that Burna Boy won the Best Global Music Album category with his ‘Twice As Tall’ album at the 63rd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, United States.
It would be recalled that Burna Boy was received by a large crowd of fans and supporters after he landed at the Legend Business Jets Terminal at the Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa.
The fans and supporters, who were super excited and overwhelmed by the musician’s success story, hailed him by the title of one of his songs, “Odogwu”.
His Homecoming, organised by the Rivers State Government to celebrate him for making the state proud at the international scene by winning the Grammy at the 2021 Grammy Awards ceremony, witnessed superlative musical performances, during which the ace musician thrilled fans to all his hit songs, including “Odogwu” and “Onyeka”, along with other artistes.
After all the artistes had performed on stage at a reception, Saturday night, the governor thanked them for honouring the invitation, and said that the state was proud to be associated with the artistes.
He also announced a gift of a plot of land at the prestigious Old GRA to Burna Boy and money to enable him build a house of his choice on the land.
The excited Wike also decorated the Afrobeat superstar with the second highest state award known as the Distinguished Service Star of River State (DSSRS), which is the same honour bestowed on deputy governors.
The DSSRS is the second highest distinction in Rivers State Order and is conferred on individuals in recognition of their exceptional service/performance in any field of human endeavour.
The governor’s wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, who hails from the same Ahoada West with the musician, presented the award certificate to Burna Boy while the Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, gave him the award medal in the presence of top artistes such as Timaya, Duncan Mighty, Omah Lay, Mosey B, among others.
The governor recalled that the state once produced the Most Beautiful Girl in the World, Agbani Derego, insisting that Rivers State was blessed with talents.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”