Nollywood actor Saidi Balogun has responded to criticism over his open support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid.

What happened

The actor had shared videos on social media showing him hosting campaign rallies for the President in different parts of the country, which drew strong criticism from some social media users. In a response reported on Sunday, 8 November 2026, Balogun refused to back down, urging critics to allow people to hold different political views without being attacked.

Background

Balogun is a veteran actor, producer and director in the Yoruba film industry. He is one of several entertainers who have appeared at Tinubu's campaign events in recent weeks, alongside others such as actress Eniola Badmus, who also posted a video this week explaining why she believes the President deserves a second term.

The wider debate

The involvement of entertainers in the 2027 campaigns has divided opinion online. Some argue that public figures have every right to back the candidates they choose, while others say supporting the government amounts to endorsing economic hardship. The presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027.

Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Tony Elumelu has celebrated his eldest daughter, Ogechukwu, after she earned a master's degree from the University of Oxford.

What happened

In a social media post on Saturday, 7 November 2026, Elumelu shared a video from the graduation ceremony, saying his daughter had achieved two major milestones: a Master of Science degree from Oxford and the completion of a law conversion course. The video showed the family celebrating together.

Background

Ogechukwu, also known as Tamara-Marie Oge Elumelu, is the daughter of Tony Elumelu and his wife, Dr Awele Elumelu. She previously graduated with honours from the London School of Economics, where she studied politics and philosophy. Tony Elumelu is the chairman of Heirs Holdings and the United Bank for Africa (UBA), and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which supports young African entrepreneurs. He made headlines recently with a gift at singer Zlatan Ibile's wedding.

How people reacted

The post drew congratulatory messages from followers and public figures.

Veteran Nollywood actor Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, has addressed comments attributed to him about who founded Nigeria's film industry.

What he said

Speaking on the YouTube interview show 'Curiosity Made Me Ask', hosted by content creator Isbae U, in an episode uploaded on Saturday, 7 November 2026, Owoh rejected reports that he had said the Yoruba people started Nollywood rather than the Igbo. He explained that the word 'Nollywood' did not even exist when he and his colleagues first began making films. However, he said Yoruba filmmakers had indeed pioneered the home-video tradition in Nigeria, giving particular credit to the late theatre and film pioneer Hubert Ogunde. When the host jokingly suggested Ogunde might have been Igbo, Owoh insisted that he was Yoruba.

The wider debate

The question of who built Nollywood has been debated for years. In August 2026, the late actor Francis Duru argued that Igbo businesspeople were the real architects of the home-video boom of the 1990s and early 2000s, while accepting that the Yoruba film community had become more dominant through stronger organisation. Owoh was reported at the time to have pointed out that Yoruba filmmakers were active in theatre and film long before the video boom. Duru died in October 2026.

Background

Owoh is one of Nollywood's best-loved comic actors, famous for the 'Osuofia in London' films and the song 'I Go Chop Your Dollar'. 'Curiosity Made Me Ask' is one of Nigeria's most popular celebrity interview shows.

Ekiti politician Opeyemi Falegan has publicly apologised to Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday, years after their much-discussed break-up.

What happened

The apology came during a TikTok Live session on Saturday, 7 November 2026, in which the former couple spoke face to face online about their 2022 separation. Nkechi made it clear that she wanted a genuine apology, reminding Falegan that remarks he made about her during a social media live session years ago were still circulating and being used against her. She also said that despite their fallout, she had defended him in comment sections when people criticised him.

Falegan's response

Falegan apologised and said he had grown since their split, urging both of them to let the past go. He also spoke about what he described as emotional unavailability and temperament issues on both sides that made the relationship difficult.

Background

Nkechi Blessing is a popular actress and producer known for her outspoken personality on social media. Her relationship with Falegan was widely publicised before it ended in 2022 amid public exchanges online. The actress was also recently in the news after confronting comedian Carter Efe and his girlfriend.

How people reacted

Fans were divided, with some praising the two for making peace and others questioning why Nkechi chose to revisit the matter in public.