Entertainment
Timaya Joins MTN Brand Ambassadors
Information at our disposal
has it that Enetimi Alfred Odom popularly known as Timaya has joined Telecommunications and ICT giant MTN as a brand ambassador other artistes that were also unveiled include Headies Next rated award winner Seun Morihafen aka Sean Tizzle and Sound Sultan in addition to Dr Sid, Harry Song and Banky W.
It is no doubt that telecommunication companies in Nigeria have in the last four years turned the lives of our stars around for good ensuring they live the good life. Four major Telecom giants MTN, GLO, AIRTEL and ETISALAT have invested about N2 billion in bettering the lots of our entertainers as their brand ambassadors.
A recent report has it that MTN and Glo lead the park with 21 ambassadors each, Etisalat 6, while Airtel has 1. Glo expanded over N600 million on their current ambassadors. MTN, N500 million, Etisalat N190 million and Airtel N30 million. In 2010 P-Square broke the bank when Globacom scooped them up as brand ambassadors with an endorsement fee reportedly worth N240 million. P-Square charges an average of N2 million has performance fee for a show.
Three years earlier, Glo made a full swoop when they signed as ambassadors a host of actors from Nollywood including Chioma Akpota, Desmond Elliot, Uche Jumbo, Mike Ezuruonye, Ini Edo, Ramson Nouah, Monalisa Chinda, Rita Dominic and later Funke Akindele, Kunle Afolanya, Van Vicker and Odunlade Adekola, each deal was worth N10 million to N25 million.
In May 2013, Glo made another swoop, this time signing a handful of prominent B-list musicians such as Omawumi, Waje, Flavour, Bez, M. I., Burna boy Naeto C and Lynxxx and Efya who all joined Lagbaja, their deals varied but scored an average of N20 million each.
MTN who have been promoting and investing in other aspects of entertainment such as project fame music show, who wants to be a millionaire TV game show and International polo tournament amongst others shocked the industry in 2012 when they picked up Davido as an ambassador for their MTN pulse campaign, a deal reportedly worth N30 million.
It took about 13 months for the next set of endorsement deals to come, this time to past three winners of project fame this include singers like Iyanya N40 million, Mike Anyansodo N10 million, Chidinma N20 million and Praize N20 million. The deal came shortly after MTN has poached actor Hafeez Saka Oyetoro who made a famous move from another Telecom Company Etisalat in a sensational deal reportedly worth N25 million.
MTN then went on an endorsement spree signing on some of the biggest contemporary Nigerian musicians like Wizkid N45 million, Tiwa Savage N30 million, KCee N25 million and later on, Don Jazzy along with younger brother D’ Prince. The telecommunication giant added a new set of artistes to its rich list of brand ambassadors at an event held on Wednesday April 30, 2014 in Victoria Island Lagos.
The company unveiled amongst others Timaya and fast rising hiphop artiste cum Headies award winner Seun Morihafen aka Sean Tizzle. The unveiling completes an exclusive constellation of some Nigerian’s finest hiphop artistes who are doing amazingly well in their musical careers and also serve as MTN brand ambassadors. The addition of Timaya and Seun Tizzle brings to 21 the number of MTN brand ambassadors.
Banky W., Harrybong, Dr Sid and Sound Sultan were recently announced as the ICT Company’s brand ambassadors just as the contracts of Iyanga, Mbuk, Wizkid and a host of others including Yaw Nedu, Mama Gee, Saka and Nkem Owoh aka Osuofia were renewed. Etisalat also broke record when they unveiled star actress, Genevieve Nnaji as their brand ambassador in a deal reportedly worth N100 million.
Culled from Encomium Magazine.
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has joined MLS side San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner.
SDFC announced today that Tems joined the ownership group through her company, The Leading Vibe.
In the process, Tems became the first African woman to be involved in MLS ownership.
“We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner,” SDFC chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a statement.
“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which, of course, has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organisation.”
Reacting to her addition as the latest partner in SDFC’s ownership group, the singer said: “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community.
“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
Fashion and beauty entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has claimed she is enduring back pain and that her spine is degenerating.
Lawani revealed this in a video posted on social media last Tuesday.
In the clip, she opened up about her experience with epidural anesthesia, an injection administered to pregnant women in the spine to reduce pain during childbirth.
The mother of three claimed that since receiving the injection, she has not felt like herself.
She accused doctors of not fully informing women about the long-term side effects of epidurals.
According to Lawani, she received the anesthetic injection during the birth of her last two children.
She said, “When you hear ‘epidural,’ run. Doctors tell you about the side effects but do not tell you about the long-term effects on your body. I have about three friends having the same issues that I am having.
“Like, I am just 42, how did I end up with spine issues? I have a degenerating spine. I have implants in my spine. I go paralyzed. I can’t stand for a long time. I can’t even breathe properly sometimes because it affected so many things in my body when I had the surgery.
“They will not tell you because you just want the pain to go away. I have had two epidurals. I had my first as natural birth. The last two were epidural. The last one I had epidural because I had to undergo a surgery and I had no choice.
“See, the pain does not stop. My back is killing me and my spine is degenerating.”