Niniola reflects on husband’s influence, says he powered her music career
By Folashade Olorunfemi –
Afro-pop singer Niniola Apata has revealed that her late husband, Michael Chiedu Ndika, played a key role in her rise to stardom, saying he devoted himself to supporting her music career. She made the disclosure while paying tribute to him at his Service of Songs on Thursday.
News of Ndika’s death was announced by the singer on May 19, 2026, followed by a series of emotional posts mourning her husband of 13 years.
During the service, an emotional Niniola described her late partner as her “everything” and the driving force behind her success in the music industry.
“My story with Michael is a love story. Michael did everything for me. When he met me, he said, ‘I will make you a superstar,’ and he did,” she said.
The Maradona crooner added that Ndika dedicated his life to her happiness and growth, saying she learned a great deal from him during their years together.
Reflecting on the void left by his death, Niniola said he was the first person she saw every morning and the last person she spoke to each night, describing him as the best thing that ever happened to her.
She also thanked the Ndika family for accepting her and acknowledged the shock that followed the announcement of his death, while apologising to those affected by the circumstances surrounding the news.
Ndika, a talent manager and Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform focused on Afro-house and contemporary African music, died on May 19, 2026, at the age of 44. Following the Service of Songs, he is scheduled to be laid to rest on Friday.
