Entertainment
The Tide Felicitates With Senior Staff Members On Birthday
It was a happy coincidence when four senior staff members of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (The Tide) celebrated their birthday on September 19.
Among the celebrants are The Tide acting editor, Mr. Amieyeifori Ibim, Business editor, Boye Salau, deputy political editor, Opaka Dokubo and the secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ) Rivers State chapter, Ike Wigodo.
They all expressed happiness and thanked God for his grace and mercies towards them.
The editor Mr. Ibim said, “There is nothing wrong with celebrating birthdays, although mine was on a low key. It reminds you of the day you came to the world and how far you have gone.
“Certainly, when you look back you will always recall that God has been faithful to you and life is a gift, not just a gift, it is a unique and divine gift and the power behind it is God”.
He also added that birthday is a time to take stock of one’s life, see how one has failed and make amends where necessary.
Similarly, former chairman of NUJ Rivers State Council and deputy political editor(The Tide), Opaka Dokubo, expressed happiness to see yet another anniversary of his birth.
“Birthday is a day you keep at heart and that determines how much you think you are older, it is another day in the calendar, but it is a special day because that is the day you made your advent into this place called earth.
“For me, it is usually a day of reflection that is the way I marked it.
“I do not feel like I have attained anything, but I am grateful that God permitted me to be here and spared my life so far”.
Also, the chief of staff, Rivers State NUJ and Business editor, Boye Salau said, It was a day of joy to me that I had the honours and favours of almighty God to mark another year in my life.
“I must say that the outpouring of love from family, friends, well wishers, and professional colleagues made the day memorable”.
When asked if he had any regrets, he said, “there is no cause for regrets in my life because everyone has his own destiny, I give glory to God for everything”.
In the same vein, the NUJ secretary, Rivers chapter Mr. Ike Wigodo said, “I thank God for giving me the opportunity to add another year to my age, I give God the glory.
“I was impressed with the turn out of friends, well wishers and NUJ members who came to celebrate with me.
“My greatest joy is that I am alive today, and birthday is a special day in one’s life,” he said.
Agnes Onwuegbu
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.”