Nigerian singer Niniola Apata has reflected on the profound impact her late husband, Michael Ndika, had on her music career, describing him as the driving force behind her rise to stardom.
The singer spoke during a service of songs held on June 4 in honour of Ndika, whose death was announced on May 20.
While the circumstances surrounding his death have not been made public, burial arrangements released last week scheduled the service of songs ahead of his interment on Friday.
In a video from the event that has since gained attention online, Niniola shared heartfelt memories of her late husband, portraying him as a man who played a central role in both her personal and professional life.
According to the singer, Ndika believed in her potential long before her breakthrough in the music industry. She revealed that her late husband “met me raw and made me a superstar”.
“I met him and fell in love with him. We did stuff before I even dropped the first single. My story with Michael is a long story,” she said.
“Michael did everything for me. He was breathing for me. He loved me so much. And I learnt so much from Michael. He showed me the ropes. I got to meet his friends. Because, naturally, I am a loner. I love being alone.
“When Michael met me raw, he said ‘I will make you a superstar’. And he did. I was just the face and the voice, but Michael was the engine.”
Niniola also disclosed that Ndika encouraged her to remain committed to music during moments when she considered stepping away from her career.
“Even when I decided to give music a break, he did not let me,” she added.
“The first person I saw in the morning was Michael. And the last person before I close my eyes was Michael. He was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Ndika was the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform dedicated to Afro-house and African music.
Niniola gained national recognition after finishing as the second runner-up in the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa in 2013. She released her debut single, Ibadi, in 2014 and has since established herself as one of Nigeria’s leading music stars.