Author: Opalim Lifted

A new report by Cowrywise has revealed that young Nigerian couples now spend an average of ₦13 million to organise a wedding. The report titled Simplified Issue 12: The Cost of “Yes, I Do”, released on October 12, 2025, examined financial spending across the proposal, traditional wedding and white wedding stages among young working couples in the country. According to the document, there is no fixed average cost of a Nigerian wedding, as spending ranges from ₦200,000 for small, intimate events to ₦20 million and above for luxury celebrations. The report stated, “There is no fixed ‘average’ cost of a…

Sean Dyche’s first Premier League game in charge of Nottingham Forest ended in defeat as Bournemouth moved up to second in the Premier League with a thoroughly deserved victory. Forest, 2-0 winners over Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, were comfortably second best at Vitality Stadium, but they fell behind in unconventional circumstances when Marcus Tavernier’s corner sailed over goalkeeper Matz Sels and straight into the net. Forest were aggrieved at the decision to award Bournemouth a corner in the first place, with Tavernier’s cross appearing to hit Neco Williams and rebound off the Bournemouth winger’s foot before looping…

Unai Emery celebrated three years as Aston Villa manager with a hard-fought victory to end off-colour Manchester City’s nine-game unbeaten run. Aston Villa are unrecognisable since the Spaniard took over from Steven Gerrard in 2022 and, after a sticky start this season and shock defeat by Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday, the battling victory over City was their fourth on the bounce in the league. The hosts netted the winner on 19 minutes courtesy of Matty Cash’s precise left-foot finish from the edge of the box after a corner, but the visitors were unhappy with the…

Pretty Mike, the Nigerian socialite, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over “possession of illicit substances.” Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the controversial socialite and over 100 others were arrested on Sunday. The arrests were made at Proxy Lagos, the nightclub owned by Pretty Mike in Victoria Island, Lagos. Babafemi said that the raid followed intelligence about an alleged drug party taking place at the venue. He added that NDLEA officers, who had been stationed at the venue since 11 pm on Saturday, disrupted the gathering around 3 am on Sunday in line with standard…

The “King of Afrobeat”, “Black President”, activist and legendary musician Fela Kuti has returned to his hometown and Nigeria’s cultural capital Lagos through a landmark exhibition that celebrates his life and legacy and opens Monday. The “Afrobeat Rebellion” exhibition, organised by the French Embassy and the Kuti family, builds on one held in Paris in 2022 and coincides with the launch of the week-long “Felabration” festival that honours the musician every October. “The Paris exhibition was outstanding, but to have it here at home feels so special,” said Papa Omotayo, a Nigerian architect who helped to organise the Lagos event.…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced total and indefinite nationwide strike beginning on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 11:59 pm. This decision means public hospitals across the country may experience major service disruptions in the coming days. The strike decision was reached after a five-hour emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday. The NEC, which is the highest decision-making body of the association, voted unanimously for a full shutdown following what the doctors described as the Federal Government’s failure to respond satisfactorily to their 30-day ultimatum. NARD President, Dr Mohammad Usman Suleiman, disclosed the outcome of the…

Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says some internet fraudsters, popularly called “Yahoo boys”, possess exceptional creativity that could benefit the nation if redirected. “Some of our so-called Yahoo boys are geniuses who need redirection, not condemnation. Their creativity and courage, if properly guided, can drive innovation and national development,” Obi said on Saturday in Onitsha, the capital of Anambra state. The former governor spoke at the “Golden Health” conference held at the Archbishop Patterson Auditorium, All Saints’ Cathedral, Onitsha. The event, themed “Money beyond wealth”, focused on promoting ethical leadership and moral renewal among young…

Kamala Harris, former US vice-president and Democratic presidential candidate in the 2024 elections, has hinted at a possible run for a shot at the White House top job. President Donald Trump won the tightly contested race after he secured 312 electoral college votes against Harris’s 226. In an interview with the BBC, the former vice-president described her loss as surprising and traumatising. “My God, my God, what will happen to our country?” Harris said she repeated when the result came through. She had less than four months to prepare after former President Joe Biden abruptly withdrew from the race following…

The founder of Kingdom Life Network and Abel Damina Ministries International, Pastor Abel Damina, has responded to a recent statement made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, about his chances of getting into heaven. Speaking with journalists aboard Air Force One on October 12, 2025, Trump said, “I don’t think there’s anything that will get me into heaven. I think maybe I am not heaven-bound.” The remark, which has drawn widespread attention in both religious and political circles, prompted a direct response from Pastor Damina. Addressing the US president in a 14-minute video posted on his X…

Bryan Mbeumo scored twice as Manchester United survived a late scare against Brighton to claim a third successive Premier League win for the first time since February 2024, moving them up to fourth in the table. United were cruising after an hour thanks to goals from Matheus Cunha, who broke his 16-match scoring drought by netting for the first time for his new club, Casemiro’s deflected effort and Mbeumo’s neat finish. But Danny Welbeck’s brilliant free-kick pulled one back against his old club with 16 minutes left. Then, two minutes into the seven added, Charalampos Kostoulas flicked home a near-post…