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Taooma, Kiekie: Meet 5 Young Women Controlling Billion-Naira Influencer Industry [PHOTOS]
Published
3 weeks agoon
By
Editor
Attention is the new currency, it’s been said. And one might add that influencers are the new celebs. Gone are the days when celebrity status could not be achieved without getting in front of the film cameras or getting on the big stage. Now, social media is the place to find and consolidate fame which can then be translated into the big screen and big stage. This is exactly what a crop of young women are doing with resounding success.
The exciting world of social media influencing is not newly created and had hitherto been dominated by the older generation: Liz Anjorin, Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Johnson, Funke Akindele and most of Nollywood’s finest female actresses with hundreds of millions of followers between them. But things have changed as a new generation has emerged. They are bolder, sassier and set to catch up and overtake the generation before them. These ones aren’t playing and are fully monetized, pulling in billions of naira between them every year. Here are the top five.
Apaokagi Adedoyin Maryam
Influencer ID: Taooma
Followers: 19M
Strongest on: Tiktok
Genre: Comedy
This 26-year-old has a networth in high six figures. One of the most talented young Nigerian entertainers, Taooma is the master of self reinvention who brings to bear her high intelligence into everything she does.
She easily morphs into her various characters: Tao, Mama Tao, Baba Tao, Teni, Tayo, Alhaja, Quadri, Alfa and others.
Her consistency over the years and ability to work well with other entertainers has helped her steady growth to the top and she has partnered with Adebayo Salami, Don Jazzy, Iya Saje and dozens of others.
Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori
Influencer ID: Kiekie
Followers: 11M
Strongest on: Instagram
Genre: Comedy
Another dynamic female comedian, Kiekie is also no stranger to the serious side of comedy and has also used her content to drive home many societal values.
With a networth of a rumoured six figures in dollars, Kiekie’s latest character, Tailor Oran, has continued to endear her to her ever expanding fan base.
Priscilla Ajoke Ojo
Influencer ID: Priscilla Ojo
Followers: 7M
Strongest on: Instagram
Genre: Fashion and Style
At this point, this 24-year-old new bride has become an entrenched part of Entertainment royalty in Nigeria.
Though not the influencer with the most following, Priscilla’s fans cannot get enough of her big smile, natural physique and her easy mien. Hungry for romance, social media fed fat on her recent wedding with Tanzanian male idol, Juma Jux, pushing her up the ladder of rich young influencers.
Her networth is said to be a rumoured six figures in dollars.
Influencer ID: Bimbo Ademoye
Followers: 6M
Strongest on: Instagram
Genre: Lifestyle
This award-winning actress is one of Nollywood’s most beloved and most versatile.
Best known for her role in Anikulapo, she has lent credence to her numerous other roles and won the hearts of her huge fan base with her humour, sincerity and avoidance of scandal.
She is said to be one of the top 10 best paid actresses, despite her young age.
Sarah Idaji Ojone
Influencer ID: Saidaboj
Followers: 4.5M
Strongest on: Tiktok
Genre: Talk
Self-styled voice of the girl-child is the new kid on the block and that voice is loud.
The 24-year-old comes with a bold, sexy style and she is fast catching up and overtaking her predecessors.
Her new single, Gold Digger, is also setting her up as the new Tiwa Savage. Watch out for this smooth skinned chocolate beauty in the cyberspace and beyond.
The Kogi-born mecurial crooner who studied at Atiku Abubakar’s AUN, is famous for being cheeky and has engaged in sagas with a wide range of influencers including VDM, Portable and Blessing CEO.
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Most Followed Tiktoker Khaby Lame Deported From US Over Visa Violation
Published
18 hours agoon
June 12, 2025By
Editor
Italian-Senegalese social media sensation, Khaby Lame, known as the world’s most followed TikTok creator, has been deported from the United States after allegedly overstaying his visa, The New York Times reported.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that Lame, 25, was detained last Friday at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
The agency confirmed the detention in an official statement, stating that Lame entered the country on April 30 but “overstayed the terms of his visa.”
Lame, who rose to international fame for his silent comedic reactions to overcomplicated “life hack” videos, has amassed over 160 million followers on TikTok.
READ ALSO: TikTok Creator Jailed For Naira Abuse
His online popularity led to collaborations with global fashion brands, a role in a Hollywood film, and a reality show on Tubi titled Khaby Is Coming To America.
His deportation has sparked a storm of reactions online.
“Every single illegal alien needs to be DEPORTED. When I found out the biggest TikTok star, Khaby Lame, is an illegal alien evading taxes, I worked with Trump’s ICE to have him removed. He’s since been detained by ICE and removed,” Bo Loudon, a Gen Z Trump supporter and self-styled activist, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
READ ALSO: Trump Gives TikTok Extra 75 Days To Find Buyer TikTok
Following his deportation, Lame has not issued any formal statement. However, on Monday, he posted an Instagram story tagged in São Paulo, Brazil, marking his first confirmed location since leaving the US
Lame’s former legal representative, Riccardo Lanzo, told The New York Times that the influencer had spent significant time in the US recently but acknowledged uncertainty regarding his visa status.
The case came amid a broader immigration enforcement push under Trump’s renewed administration.
APF

President Donald Trump touted a new website for his planned $5 million US residency permit on Wednesday, saying the waiting list for the golden visa has opened on TrumpCard.gov.
“Thousands have been calling and asking how they can sign up to ride a beautiful road in gaining access to the Greatest Country and Market anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
Trump unveiled the first such visa aboard Air Force One in April, holding a golden prototype that bore his face and promising the special permit would probably be available “in less than two weeks.”
The visas are not available yet, but the website announced Wednesday allows interested parties to submit their name, desired visa and email address under a header that says “The Trump Card is Coming.”
READ ALSO: Trump Orders Inquiry Into ‘Conspiracy’ To Hide Biden’s Health Decline
Trump previously said the new visa, a high-price version of the traditional green card, would bring in job creators and could be used to reduce the US national deficit.
The announcement comes as deportation raids are being ramped up across the country, prompting protests, and as Trump’s administration faces ongoing lawsuits and accusations of rights violations over its anti-immigration blitz.
Trump has said the new card would be a route to highly prized US citizenship. He said in February that his administration hoped to sell “maybe a million” of the cards and did not rule out that Russian oligarchs may be eligible.
AFP
Headline
19-year-old Nigerian Artiste Beaten To Death In Ghana
Published
2 days agoon
June 11, 2025By
Editor
A 19-year-old upcoming Nigerian artiste identified simply as Destiny has been beaten to death in the Volta Region area of Ghana.
According to The PUNCH, the incident happened on May 28.
It was gathered that a yet-to-be-identified Nigerian based in Ghana accused him of failing to remit funds related to a business venture they introduced him to.
The male adult, who was also said to be among those who facilitated his trip to the country, stormed his apartment alongside two others to question him about the funds.
However, Destiny’s failure to provide answers led to a severe assault meted out to him.
READ ALSO: Tailor Stabs Man To Death In Ondo
A source privy to the incident told The PUNCH on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity because he lacked the authority to speak with the media that the Edo State-born artiste thereafter succumbed to the injuries sustained from the assault.
“Destiny went to Ghana to further his education, and the travel was facilitated by someone he called his street brother. These are the same people who provided an apartment for him over there. Those who broke the news to us from there said the men introduced him to a business, which they later accused him of diverting some funds meant for the business. This angered them, and they went to his apartment and beat him up. The beating was so intense that he felt weak and gave up the ghost in the process,” the source narrated.
It was further learnt that the suspects left the deceased’s body in the room after they discovered that he was motionless.
Another source who spoke to newsmen said the police later discovered the corpse a few days after the incident.
READ ALSO: Shun Consumption Of Animal Skin To Stave Off Cancer, Don advises
“The police were alerted to the incident, and some officers were deployed to the apartment where Destiny’s remains were found. We were told that no suspects had been arrested since his death. We hope the Ghanaian authorities find his killers and bring them to justice.”
In a video obtained by The PUNCH, Destiny was seen speaking about himself and what his plans were.
He said, “I am Destiny and I am a streamer from Nigeria. I want to apply to Streamers University, and this will be a great joy for me, my mother, and everybody. I am also an artiste and a gamer. I do all sorts of things.”
Recall that in April a 77-year-old Nigerian Uber driver, Olatunji Bolaji, was killed in a shooting outside a hookah lounge in Philadelphia, United States.
READ ALSO: 14-year-old Stabs Teacher To Death
Bolaji, who lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania, was on duty around 2 a.m. on Wednesday when he picked up a passenger, a 22-year-old man, outside the Byblos Hookah Bar near Rittenhouse Square in Centre City, CBS reports on Friday.
Police said shortly after Bolaji picked up the young man, another vehicle pulled up behind his SUV, and two men got out.
One of them opened fire, shooting both Bolaji and the passenger.
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