• Peter Igho

The Palace of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, has announced that the formal turbaning ceremony of Chief Peter Igho as Kakakin Daular Usmaniyya will take place on November 1, 2026.

Chief Peter Igho is a legendary Nigerian broadcaster, television producer and media icon.

A former Executive Director at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), he is best known as the Producer/Director of timeless classics such as Cock Crow at Dawn and other pioneering programmes that defined Nigerian television.

He is a recipient of numerous national and international awards for broadcasting excellence and has mentored generations of media professionals.

Chief Igho, who hails from the Niger Delta, is also a respected cultural ambassador and community leader noted for his philanthropy and commitment to national integration.

The prestigious traditional title was conferred on Chief Igho by His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on September 10, 2025, in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the development of the Sultanate Council, Sokoto State, and Nigeria in general.

The ceremony is expected to be witnessed by prominent Nigerians from all walks of life, and across the country, serving to further cement cordial relations and national unity among the diverse peoples of Nigeria.

The Sokoto Caliphate, also known as Daular Usmaniyya, was founded in 1804 by the great Islamic scholar and reformer, Shehu Usman Dan Fodio.

It remains one of the most significant empires in African history, renowned for its scholarship, administration, justice and promotion of Islamic values.

At its peak, it was the largest state in West Africa.

Today, the Sultanate Council, under the Sultan of Sokoto, remains the pre-eminent custodian of its heritage and a central institution for Islamic leadership, peacebuilding, and national cohesion in Nigeria.

Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido, and American gospel singer Kirk Franklin will on Friday, October 30, 2026, release a new song, titled ‘Hope in You.’

The song will feature on Franklin’s forthcoming 14-track album, I Am What I Am, which blends gospel music with contemporary sounds.

The collaboration was previewed at an album listening event in Atlanta, United States, on October 12, where Davido reportedly performed a verse and joined the choir.

The project also features American musicians GloRilla, Jelly Roll and Tobe Nwigwe, bringing together artists from different musical backgrounds.

The collaboration marks a meeting of Afrobeats and contemporary gospel, with the two artists bringing their distinct musical styles to the project.

Veteran Nollywood actor, producer and director Steve Echendu has died after battling an undisclosed illness, adding to a wave of grief currently sweeping through the Nigerian film industry.

The news was announced by his colleague, Wisdom Nwankwo, in a Facebook post in which he expressed deep pain over the loss of two industry figures within five days. Nwankwo also mourned media personality Austinfair Nwaulu, who died days earlier and was buried on Tuesday. He described Echendu as one of the “gladiators” of Nollywood’s formative years and a key figure associated with OJs Production.

“I don’t take chills in doing this, but I am really touched and pained,” Nwankwo wrote. He urged people to check on friends who had been absent from their social media timelines, noting the unpredictability of life. “Just a space of five days, oh Lord, let your will always prevail.”

Echendu was known for his work both in front of and behind the camera. His film credits include Fury (2019), Knockout Blessing (2018) and Infant at Heart (2024). Colleagues remembered him as a dedicated contributor during the period when the Nigerian home-video industry was expanding and consolidating.

His death comes just hours after the industry also lost veteran actor Francis Duru, whose family announced his passing on 23 October 2026 at the age of 57 following a brief illness. The back-to-back losses have left many in Nollywood in shock.

As of Saturday morning, details about Echendu’s exact age, the nature of his illness and burial arrangements had not been made public. Tributes continue to pour in from colleagues and fans across social media.