Entertainment
5 Nigerians Who Have Received Oscars Nomination, Award

Movie stars made their way to the Hollywood’s biggest night when the 2024 Oscars held at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday.
It was a night of glamour and glory as the best of Hollywood stars gathered to celebrate their success and achievements in the film industry.
Over time, cinema stars of Nigeria descent have attended this spectacular celebration.
In this article, we take a look at five Nigerians who have been nominated and awarded at the prestigious Oscars awards.
Nigerians who have received nomination, awards at Oscars
Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo is an English actress, singer, and songwriter born to Nigerian parents. She has received numerous awards, as her distinct ability continues to stand out. The dynamic actress has two Academy Award nominations to her credit. The first nomination was for Best Actress in the film Harriet. The second was for Best Original Song Stand Up Still in the film Harriet. Both Oscar nominations came during the 92nd Academy Awards.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor CBE is a British-Nigerian actor and filmmaker whose parents are from the Igbo tribe. After enrolling at the National Youth Theatre in 1995 and attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, at the age of 19 and three months into his education, Steven Spielberg cast Ejiofor as James Covey in the film Amistad. Since then, he has received international attention for his work.Chiwetel was nominated for Best Actor in the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave at the 86th Academy Awards in 2014.
Sophie Okonedo
She’s a British-Nigerian actor and storyteller. Her Nigerian blood comes from her father’s side. Her film career began with the British coming-of-age drama Young Soul Rebels, followed by Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Stephen Frears’ Dirty Pretty Things. An actress who merits a standing ovation anytime she appears on screen. Okonedo’s breakout performance occurred in 2004, when she co-starred in the film Hotel Rwanda as Tatiana Rusesabagina, the wife of Rwandan hotel manager and philanthropist Paul, played by American actor Don Cheadle. In 2005, she became the second Black female Briton to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 77th Academy Awards.
Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker is an exceptional American actor, director, and producer. His ancestors are from Nigeria. Indeed, his father’s ancestors are from the Igbo tribe of Nigeria. They are specifically from Nkwere, an Igbo town. Forest Whitaker was given the honorary title of chief ‘Nwannedinambe de Nkewere’, which means ‘a brother in a foreign nation’. He is making a significant difference in that strange place since he is one of the few black actors in America who are at the top of their game. Whitaker earned an Oscar for his role as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland. He received the Oscar for Best Actor at the 79th Academy Awards in 2007.
Temilade Openiyi
Temilade Openiyi, a.k.a Tems, was nominated for the 95th edition of the Oscars award, Although she didn’t win her category, she made history as the first Nigerian artiste to be nominated at the awards.
Tems received the Best Original Song nomination for her collaboration with Rihanna on the song ‘Lift Me Up’. The duo was nominated in the ‘Best Original Song’ category.
‘Lift Me Up’ was one of Marvel’s ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ soundtracks. Rihanna co-wrote the soulful song with Tems, and the music was produced by Ludwig Göransson, and directed by Ryan Coogler.
Entertainment
Why I can’t date or marry Saga -Liquorose

By Francesca Hangeior
Nollywood actress and BBNaija star, Liquorose recently shared insights into her relationship with Saga, calling him her “gossip partner” and close friend.
The influencer explained that she can’t date him because their bond has gone beyond romance, with Saga being a trusted confidant and partner in various activities.
She said: “People ask me why I don’t date Saga, and I’m like, have you seen us? That’s my gossip partner! Once I leave here, I’m texting Saga and we’re going to laugh about this. I can’t date Saga. I can’t marry Saga. Not because he’s not attractive, but because we’ve gone beyond that. Saga is a very special person to me—he’s a friend, a brother, my partner in cr!me, 100%.”
Entertainment
2025 Face Of Tourism Beauty Pageant Organizers Call For More Funding In Tourism Sector+Photos

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of “Free Image Humanitarian Foundation, (FIHF), Janet Ochanya has called for more funding for the tourism sector in the country.
NaijaBlitzNews reports the event which was held yesterday at the Armed Forces Officers Mess Luingi Barracks Abuja
The Founder/CEO of the foundation Janet Ochanya made this comment after Miss FCT, Queen Sarah Oyibinga Okli was crowned the winner of the pageant after a hard fought victory defeating other ten contestants.
She said the event is aimed at drawing the attention of the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the importance of tourism and the need to pay more attention to the tourism industry by budgeting more funds to the sector in line with the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
While applauding the success of the pageant, Ochanya further stated that, the pageant amongst others is also aimed at creating more awareness on the economic potentials of the tourism industry in terms job creation for the teeming idle Nigerian youths and as a catalyst for economic growth and development of the country.
She also commended the current Nigerian minister of tourism Lola Ade-John for the wonderful work she is doing in repositioning the tourism sector since assuming office stating that more investment in the industry by the president, has the potential of transforming the economy of the country.
Ochanya who was also a winner of a beauty pageant her self said her interest in organizing the pageants is to give positive direction and exposure to the up and coming youths particularly girls by reassuring them that they can be successful in a positive way rather than venturing into prostitution, drugs and other societal ills.
She said her organisation, Free Image Humanitarian Foundation has been involved in organizing beauty pageant for over 15 years with the Miss Idoma pageant which has produced many crowned queens who are now impacting positively on the society.
The winner of the 2025 event which happens to be the 2nd Edition of the Face of Tourism Beauty Pageant Miss FCT, Queen Sarah Oyibinga Okli, defeated 10 other contestants to clinch the covated crown at a colourful event which was widely attended by business and entertainment moguls as well as some major influential dignitaries in the tourism sector across the country.
The visibly elated and happy winner queen who faced a stiff challenge from other contestants from Kaduna, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Enugu respectively thanked the organizers of the event and for giving her the platform to showcase her talent.
She said she will use her reign to propagate the importance and benefits of Tourism in Nigeria and it’s potentials and benefits in engaging and addressing youths festiveness and its contribution to the GDP of the country.
She also assured that her reign will witness economic growth in the country and will put Nigeria in the world map as the number one tourist destination in Africa and world in general.
NaijaBlitzNews crew also spoke with the Catwalk Instructor, Ms Oluwakemi Abosede Osindele who acknowledged the hard work put in by the contestants before the main event.
Oluwakemi said she was not surprised by the outcome of the pageant as the various winners deserved their victories.
She also showered praises on the judges for the honestly and unbias in painstakingly picking out the winners which is not an easy task but at the end of the day, the audience accepted the outcome with laud applause.
At the end of the day and after a hard fought contest, Miss FCT, emerged the overall winner and crowned, the face of Tourism in Nigeria and closely followed by Miss Kaduna, Queen Theresa Jonathan, who was crowned, Miss Tradition 2025 and Miss Enugu, Queen Laura Chioma Eze, who was crowned, Face of Tourism Ambassador 2025 and finally Miss Akwa Ibom, Queen Anita Emmanuel, who was crowned, the Face of Tourism North 2025.
The organizer are already looking ahead to the next pageant which they promised will be more exciting than the just concluded pageant.
Entertainment
Zinoleesky Welcomes Second Baby, Shares Beautiful Photos

Nigerian singer Zinoleesky has joyfully announced the birth of his second child, sending waves of excitement through the entertainment community and among fans across social media.
The talented artist, known for his unique sound and affiliation with Marlian Music, took to Instagram to share the news, posting touching photos of himself tenderly holding his newborn. Clad in traditional attire, Zinoleesky appeared proud and radiant as he embraced fatherhood once again.
In the caption, he wrote: “Owo baba Zafar” — a phrase that loosely translates to “the father of Zafar,” hinting that the newborn may be a baby boy named Zafar.
This marks Zinoleesky’s second child, following the birth of his first daughter in 2024 — a moment that was publicly announced by his label boss, Naira Marley.
While the announcement came as a pleasant surprise to many, fans and fellow celebrities quickly flooded the comment section with congratulatory messages, celebrating the singer’s growing family.
Zinoleesky continues to make strides in both his music career and personal life, earning admiration not just for his artistry but also for embracing his role as a father.
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