Entertainment
Adeboye, Tiwa Savage, Obi Cubana, Other Celebrities Who Received Honorary Degrees In 2022
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
2022 brought showers of national and international academic honours for Nigeria’s famous personalities.
From entertainers, to politicians, and religious heads, several public figures received honorary and actual degrees from national and international universities.
Here is a list of famous Nigerians who earned academic recognitions in 2022 as compiled by The PUNCH:
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Inarguably one of the most academically decorated persons in Nigeria, Adichie opened the floor for the showers of honours this year after she earned her 16th honorary doctorate degree from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium in April.
The renowned author also boasts of doctorate degrees from several reputable institutions including Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Edinburgh, Duke University, Georgetown University, and Johns Hopkins University.
Professor Helen Paul
The comedy and acting powerhouse both shines on stage, and in her academic endeavours.
Paul, who bagged a doctorate degree in Theatre Arts from University of Lagos in 2019, revealed in May of this year that she was promoted to a professorship position at the Heart International University, USA, where she currently works.
READ ALSO: Sunday Igboho Bags Honorary Doctorate Degree In War Studies From US Varsity
The comedian and was also appointed as the Head of Department of Arts, Music and Entertainment at the varsity.
The success was a family affair as Helen’s husband, Femi Bamisile, was also awarded a Doctorate degree in Law, by the same University.
Peter Okoye
Peter, one half of Nigerian music duo, Psquare, bagged an honorary doctorate from the Escae-Benin University, Benin Republic in June.
Announcing the news via his Instagram page, he wrote, “Dear Team P! It’s a great honor to be decorated by a distinguished educational institution, Who have recognized my contribution to Dance and Music as well as my support for the youth in the entertainment industry.”
IK Ogbonna
Ikechukwu Mitchel Ogbonna was another Nigerian celebrity awarded an honorary degree in June 2022.
Institut Superieur De Technologies Et De Management, Togo, awarded Ogbonna a Doctorate (Honorary) Degree of Arts in leadership and Development.
Wole Soyinka
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, added another feather to his already colourful academic cap in 2022.
The prolific writer bagged an honorary degree from the reputable University of Cambridge, UK, in June.
One of the most prestigious honours in the world, the Cambridge varsity honorary degree is bestowed upon people “who have made outstanding achievements in their respective fields,” the varsity’s official site noted.
The Adeboyes
The founder of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and his wife, Pastor Foluke, both bagged doctorate degrees this year.
READ ALSO: How I Became Professor In US Varsity — Helen Paul
In July, Pastor Foluke was conferred a honorary doctorate degree in Education by the Benson Idahosa University Edo.
Likewise, Pastor Adeboye himself received an honorary doctorate degree from the Oral Roberts University, USA in December.
In total, Pastor Adeboye boasts of 8 honorary degrees from different universities in the world.
Tiwa Savage
“Some call me Queen, but it’s Dr Tiwa Savage from now on,” an excited Tiwa said as she gave her acceptance speech during the University of Kent graduation ceremony which held in July.
While the mother-of-one had a rough 2021, 2022 was definitely her year of bouncing back, better and stronger.
Coupled with multiple brand deals and hit features, the songstress bagged an honorary doctorate degree from her alma mater, the University of Kent, UK.
Dubbing her the “Queen of Afrobeats” the University hailed Savage for “her inspirational and international career in music.”
Mishael Maro
Nigerian film director and producer, Mishael Maro, was conferred an Honorary Fellowship of the James Currey Society at the African Studies Centre at the University of Oxford in July.
Maro currently serves as an Academic Visitor at the African Studies Centre, University of Oxford, for the 2022-2023 Academic year
The Fellowship is named in honour of British publisher, James Currey and his contributions to African scholarship and literature.
Ireti Doyle
Wedding Party actress, Ireti Doyle was not left out in the 2022 academic honours galore.
The veteran thespian was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the Institut Superieur de Communication et de Gestion University in Benin Republic.
The actress confessed that while she had a “healthy expectation of receiving accolades” she did not envision an academic honour.
Bob Manuel Udokwu
Former Guinness Ultimate Search games master, Bob Manuel, was another Nigerian actor conferred an honorary doctorate degree by the Institut Superieur de Communication et de Gestion University in August.
Ireti Doyle also broke the news and shared their pictures from the ceremony on her Instagram page.
Both veteran actors incidentally both featured in the movie, Living in Bondage, which clocked 30 years on the day they were both conferred the award.
Queen Silekunola Naomi Ogunwusi
Queen Silekunola, estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi was also decorated with academic honours this year.
In September, the Queen was conferred an honorary doctorate by the Myles Leadership University, Benin Republic.
Rejoicing via her Instagram page, the prophetess wrote, “While you walk through this world, please work hard. The heat will come but the honours will soon follow.”
Kaffy
Popular dancer, Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau, also known as Kaffy, was also honoured with a doctorate degree from Myles Leadership University in September.
The 2022 honour is her second, as she earlier bagged a doctorate degree from Escae Benin University, Benin Republic, in 2020.
Adesua Etomi-Wellington
The multi-award winning Nollywood actress not only bags awards for her performances on stage, she was also given a nod in the academic world this year.
In September, Wellington was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by her alma mater, the University of Wolverhampton.
READ ALSO: Obi Cubana Gifts Former Classmates N40m
In a statement by the UK varsity, Etomi was lauded for her “phenomenal contribution to arts and culture”.
Obi Cubana
Nigerian businessman and socialite, Obinna Iyiegbu was among the several celebrities conferred with honorary degrees this year.
The club owner bagged a honorary Doctor of Business Administration from the Enugu State University in November.
Celebrating the win, Cubana wrote on his Instagram page, “He wrote, “Ladies and Gentlemen. You may wish to address me henceforth as Dr. Obinna Iyiegbu Okpataozueora 1! (Dr. Of Business Administration).”
Sunday Igboho
In November, Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeymo alias Igboho was also conferred with academic honours.
Igboho was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Triune Biblical University in Brooklyn, New York, the United States of America.
Governors
Governors of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; and Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, all received honorary doctorate degrees from Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State in December.
The news was shared by the Governor of Lagos State, Sanwo-Olu, where he congratulated his colleagues for the achievement.
PUNCH
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Entertainment
Colleagues, Fans Pour Tributes As Funke Akindele Marks
Published
18 hours agoon
August 24, 2025By
Editor
Nollywood star Funke Akindele was showered with warm tributes on social media on Sunday as colleagues, protégés, and fans marked her 48th birthday, praising the actress-producer for her friendship, mentorship and contributions to the film industry.
Akindele, best known for her comic creation Jenifa and the popular television series and films that grew from it, has long been celebrated as a mentor and role model to younger talents.
On Sunday, however, tributes poured in beyond her screen achievements to highlight her enduring friendships and influence on emerging entertainers.
In a viral post, skitmaker Akinyoola Ayoola, popularly known as Kamo State, and acclaimed as Akindele’s adopted son, paid tribute to Akindele with a birthday song and an affectionate caption that referred to her as “Grandma Sonia” and “OLUFUNKE Ayotunde.”
READ ALSO:I’m A Feminist But I Don’t Support Disrespectful Wives – Funke Akindele
He posted, “Happy Birthday Grandma Sonia, lyami Olufunke Ayotunde…Words can’t express how much | appreciate you. You’ve always been more than just a godmother to me, you’ve been a source of strength, love, and unwavering support.
“Thank you for the countless ways you’ve shown me kindness, for believing in me, and for always being there, no matter what. I’m incredibly grateful for your presence in my life…Enjoy your day, lya Beji, Alase gbogbo FaanTV, JENIFA Kan, Lefty Miii,”
Popular actress Eniola Badmus, posting as @eniola_badmus on Instagram, described the box-office star as “more than just a friend,” calling her a “playmate, my gist partner, my safe place” and a source of joy.
“Thank you for all the memories and for making life so much brighter,” Badmus wrote, praying that the new year brings Akindele “endless joy, success, and blessings.”
READ ALSO:Funke Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ Becomes First Nollywood Film To Hit N1bn
Another well-wisher, @tobimakinde, lauded Akindele as a “true trailblazer, luminary and exemplar of excellence,” wishing her “greater strength, peace, and overflowing joy” and praying for continued success and good health.
Fans across platforms joined in the celebrations, sharing clips, photos and messages under birthday posts, with many praising her career achievements and role as a mentor in Nollywood.
@Metalistix commented, “Happy 48th Birthday, Funke Akindele! Congratulations to you on this special day. Many of us grew up watching you in our teens, and we’re still watching and celebrating you as adults – and we know we’ll continue cheering you on even in old age. Cheers to a beautiful life, more success, and endless joy. Keep shining, Funke!”
@Tina_rayx described Akindele as “The Wizkid of Nollywood. Number 1. Nobody comes close. Aura upon Aura.”
READ ALSO:VIDEO: Funke Akindele, Ex-husband JJC Skillz Reunite At Movie Premiere
@TowFunFun posted, “Happy birthday to the most successful actress in Nigerian history. The mother of many of us.”
Meanwhile, the creator of Jenifa used the occasion to reveal details of her next big project.
In a birthday message to fans, she announced her upcoming film Behind the Scenes, set for release in December 2025.
She said, “It’s my birthday today, and I feel so fulfilled. I’m graciously grateful to God for the grace to keep telling our stories… I’m using this special day to reveal my blockbuster movie, which premieres in December 2025, Behind The Scenes.”
Entertainment
How Toke Makinwa’s Pregnancy Unveiling Sparked Social Media Frenzy
Published
2 days agoon
August 23, 2025By
Editor
Nigerian media personality, entrepreneur and actress, Toke Makinwa, sent shockwaves across the internet exactly a week ago after unveiling her pregnancy, a revelation that has since dominated conversations both online and offline.Newspaper-inspired merchandise
For over a decade, Makinwa has remained one of Nigeria’s most recognised media figures. From her early days as a presenter on Rhythm 93.7 FM’s ‘The Morning Drive’, to her widely followed YouTube vlog, Toke Moments, and her best-selling memoir ‘On Becoming’, she has built a reputation for candour, glamour and resilience.Newspaper-inspired merchandise
At 40, she has grown into an entertainment powerhouse, with endorsements, acting roles, and businesses that have cemented her influence across fashion, beauty, and lifestyle spaces.
Over the years, Toke Makinwa’s views on relationships have often sparked debate. Following a high-profile divorce from entrepreneur Maje Ayida in 2017, she became vocal about self-worth, financial independence and rethinking traditional expectations of marriage.
READ ALSO:Orphaned Nigerian TikToker ‘Geh Geh’ Goes Viral, Rakes In $30,000 From One Live Session
While she once remarked that “marriage is not an achievement,” she later admitted she remained open to remarriage but only on her own terms.
In her exact words, she remarked, “As independent women, do you think that we have glamorised this notion of being independent? Yeah. It’s tough, I won’t lie. Let me break it down. Forget the cameras. At this point in my life, if I have the opportunity to be the second, third, fourth or fifth wife, I will take it.”
This history of outspoken reflections made her pregnancy announcement more striking to fans and critics alike.
The pregnancy unveiling
Ahead of her Instagram unveiling, Tribune Online on Tuesday, August 12, exclusively reported that the actress is pregnant and nears delivery. Digital edition of the newspaper
Following the report, Makinwa took to Instagram on Wednesday to announce what she called “the biggest project of my life.”
READ ALSO:Popular Singer Hamisu Breaker, TikToker G. Fresh Sentenced To Prison For Naira Abuse
Accompanied by radiant photographs of her growing bump, she described the journey as “the highest calling ever,” adding:
“Of all the projects I’ve embarked on in my life, this one trumps it all. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. God truly makes all things beautiful in His time.”
Her heartfelt caption, infused with gratitude and spirituality, immediately struck a chord with millions of followers.
Social media frenzy
The reaction that trailed Toke Makinwa’s unveiling was nothing short of explosive. Within two hours, her Instagram post had attracted over 20,000 comments. By the five-hour mark, the figure had crossed 40,000, as fans, colleagues and celebrities flooded the comments section with congratulatory messages.
At the time of writing this and barely 10 days after the unveiling, Toke’s Instagram post has 75,000 comments and continues to generate 75,000 reactions from fans and critics. Many hailed her story as inspirational, particularly as she is experiencing motherhood at 40, a milestone that challenged cultural expectations about timing and family.
READ ALSO:Wizkid Is Married – DJ Tunez Reveals [VIDEO]
Popular celebrities such as Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Iyabo Ojo, Adesua Etomi and others publicly celebrated the news, while fans reposted her images with beautiful captions describing her as a “beacon of hope” and a “symbol of divine timing.”
‘Unknown husband’ question
Yet, the wave of celebrations quickly gave way to speculations. Toke did not disclose the identity of the father, prompting thousands of curious and sometimes intrusive questions across social platforms.
Comments about who the “baby daddy” dominated the conversation for days. Controversial social media personality, Uche Maduagwu, weighed in with a question, somewhat rhetorical: “Toke, who gives you belle? Na married man or single, let’s know abeg.”
Another Instagram user, @halibut, commented: “Where is your husband? For you all you girls saying you can’t settle for less, can you see Toke Makinwa? She don settle for less, she no fit show her husband, maybe na gateman give her belle.” @Afroblog001 also wrote: “Thought you said you no need man for your life or na woman sperm did the job?”
The absence of clarity also gave rise to conspiracy theories. Some online users suggested she may have used a surrogate, pointing to the lack of earlier bare-belly photos. @shemstrends commented: “Why do I feel artificial and lowkey a surrogate, but however I’m feeling, congratulations to her.” Similarly, @the.halfcast wrote: “The Toke we all know will definitely want to show us the naked body of her tummy.”
READ ALSO:My Past Trauma Made Me Difficult To Love – Toke Makinwa
The speculation gained traction until she eventually shut it down herself by posting a striking image of her bare bump.
As if that wasn’t enough, the announcement also attracted moral criticism.
Commentators questioned her decision to frame the pregnancy in spiritual terms while being unmarried, igniting heated discussions on the intersection of faith, motherhood, and societal expectations.
Popular social commentator Solomon Buchi wrote: “As a Jesus girl or Christian, we need to be very careful how we mix God with our personal decisions, decisions we have decided to pursue, whether they are Godly or not. Now I am not saying there is anything ungodly or not about having a child but you are having a child outside of wedlock, you are not married, and so there is just no need bringing God into that. There is no need spiritualizing it. Honestly you can give your testimony without implicating God’s word and His standard. Just say that you wanted to be a mother and now you are about to be a mother, or you are a mother already. There is no need to infuse God into it because, according to God’s standard, the only right way to be a parent is in the premise of marriage.”
READ ALSO:Flutterwave Collaborates With Token.io To Ease Bank Transfer To UK, EU
Anothe Instagram user, @iamkennethudeh, also commented: “God’s standard is a good man and good woman to bear and raise children and live happily. Don’t normalise this abnormally for our young men and women, child without a father and you are even posting.”
While some viewed such remarks as judgmental, others felt they echoed long-standing cultural beliefs about marriage and parenting.
Throughout all the noise, Toke Makinwa has maintained her silence on the identity of her unborn child’s father, focusing instead on celebrating what she describes as a new and fulfilling season in her life
Beyond the Gossip
Beyond the frenzy, Makinwa’s announcement resonated because it spoke to broader themes: women defining family on their own terms, the intersection of faith and timing, and the pressure society places on female celebrities.
For many, her story reinforces that motherhood and fulfilment can come at any stage, irrespective of age or marital status.
As one fan wrote in a widely shared comment: “Toke’s journey is proof that delay is not denial.”
Entertainment
Music Earnings Couldn’t Have Sponsored My Wedding To Otedola’s Daughter – Mr Eazi
Published
3 days agoon
August 22, 2025By
Editor
Nigerian singer and entrepreneur, Mr Eazi has insinuated that his music earnings alone couldn’t have covered the expenses of his wedding to actress Temi Otedola, daughter of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola.
The ‘Leg Over’ crooner stated this while reacting to an X user who claimed that he was trying to recoup his wedding expenses by releasing his new single, ‘Cassanova.’
Reacting, Mr Easy said, “U think sey music go fit pay for that wedding my G? lol”.
READ ALSO:Singer Mr Eazi Weds Temi Otedola In Iceland [VIDEO]
However, another X user stated that Mr Eazi’s earnings from 2018 could have sponsored the wedding.
Responding, the singer explained that he had a successful hit-run in 2017-2018, but it was his most financially challenging year in the past decade.
“You got a point tho, but 2017-18 is the brokest I’ve been in the last 9 years! But all the music I put out then enter like mad sha im really thankful,” he wrote.
READ ALSO:Wizkid Is Married – DJ Tunez Reveals [VIDEO]
DAILY POST reported that Mr Eazi and Temi held their wedding in a private Iceland ceremony recently.
The couple got engaged in April 2022 in London, England.
Mr Eazi has previously revealed that he met Temi through her elder sister, DJ Cuppy, who was his friend.
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