Nollywood icon Genevieve Nnaji has fired off a sharp response after a man on X (formerly Twitter) advised Igbo men to stop marrying Igbo women and instead seek wives from other African countries.
The controversy began after a photo of a Rwandan woman said to be engaged to an Anambra man went viral.
Resharing the image, the user wrote, “Dear Igbo men, instead of marrying an Igbo woman who’ll falsely accuse you of r4ping your daughter, better look outside for a wife.
“Go to East Africa, especially Rwanda, and pick a damsel. They’re all over social media, and you can link up with them.”
Genevieve, who rarely comments on online drama, responded, “In other words, instead of checking yourself and taking accountability, go for the unsuspecting and carry on with your evil. Got it.”
Another user attempted to challenge her, claiming the original tweet was aimed at “false rape accusers” and that Genevieve was avoiding the real issue.
“His tweet was clearly against false rape accusers, but instead of holding the evil women accountable and demanding change, you chose to tweet this?”
But the actress hit back with equal clarity: “The same way a woman can’t tell an abusive man apart from a good one is the same way you shouldn’t say avoid all Igbo women. ‘Not all women’.”
The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has called for radical reforms to correct the mistakes recorded by unregistered leagues of Muslim clerics.
Oba Akanbi made the call in his remarks while endorsing the launch of a one thousand member registered league of Imams and Alfas for South West states, Edo and Delta in Ibadan on Saturday.
While affirming his full support for the coalition, Oluwo stressed that the registered league is legally binding with full recognition by the government through the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.
The monarch noted that “the body will create a sense of belonging through a decentralised power of the state Imams by recognizing Imams and Alfas at the local levels”.
He challenged Yoruba Imams and Alfas to participate in active politics saying, “Active politics will expose the virtues of good Muslims and further provide an opportunity to improve people’s standards.”
Oluwo also called for collaboration and consistency to ensure the newly planted league survives any challenges confronted at the germination stage.
“There may be challenges at the formation stage. I have strong hope that this registered league will strive and become greater. This is the only league of Imams and Alfas known by law, legally binding and recognized by the government. It is here to stay, fully certified and recognised by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with registration number 9003000.
“Aside from consistency, I appeal for your active participation in politics. If you are politically powerful, the politicians will call you. You won’t run after them as we experience presently. We need you to be in power. You can be elected or appointed. Join a political party today and be active. As Muslims, you need power. The power will not come to you on a plater of gold.
“I charge you all to dedicate yourself to this course of reviving the league through a decentralized power sharing that creates a sense of belonging and togetherness for the local Imams and Alfas.
“I commend those who ensured Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta Muslims under Imams and Alfas are registered to be recognised by law. It’s an improvement and one of the testimonies that our children should be greater than us. It is not a division. It is an improvement,” he said.
The over 1,000 Imams were drawn from the six south west states – Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Lagos, Ekiti and Ogun, as well as Edo and Delta states.
The remains of renowned Nigerian actor and theatre scholar, Chief Dr Adekola Gabriel Oyewo, popularly known as Kola Oyewo, will be laid to rest on Friday, August 7, 2026, in Osun State according to a funeral programme released by his family.
Oyewo, who died at the age of 80, was celebrated as one of Nigeria’s foremost theatre practitioners, with a career spanning several decades on stage, television and in academia.
In a funeral announcement, the Bangbola Oyewo family of the Ese-Ola Royal House, Oba-Ile, described the deceased as “a beloved father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, colleague, esteemed traditional ruler, and a veteran of the Nigerian theatre.”
In a flier issued by the Balogun Oyekola Oyewo Memorial Committee, the three-day funeral programme will run from Wednesday, August 5, to Friday, August 7, 2026.
“With gratitude to God for a life of purpose, honour and enduring impact, the entire Bangbola Oyewo family of the Ese-Ola Royal House, Oba-Ile, announces the passing of our beloved father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, colleague, esteemed traditional ruler and veteran of the Nigerian theatre,” Newspeak quoted the family’s statement as saying on Saturday.
The late actor was also the Balogun of Oba-Ile in Osun State and an Associate Professor of Drama, earning widespread recognition for his contributions to the development of theatre arts in Nigeria.
Activities lined up for the burial rites will commence on Wednesday, August 5, with a wake-keep and service of songs at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Igboya, Ile-Ife.
On Thursday, August 6, a commendation mass will be held at the same church, while an artistes’ night featuring tributes and cultural displays is scheduled for later that day at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
A major highlight of the funeral programme will be an exhibition of Oyewo’s works and photographs at the Pit Theatre, African Studies Building, Obafemi Awolowo University, beginning on Thursday and continuing through Friday.
The funeral cortege will leave the late actor’s residence at Ese Ola’s Compound, Oba-Ile, on Friday morning before a requiem mass at St Joseph Catholic Church, Oba-Ile.
Interment will take place at 12:45 p.m. on Friday, August 7, at Labaluyegbe Villa, Oba-Ile, in a ceremony restricted to family members and close associates.
A reception for guests will follow at Aderonmu Grammar School Field, Oba-Ile.
Widely regarded as one of the leading figures in Nigerian theatre, Oyewo inspired generations of actors, playwrights and scholars through his work in performance, teaching and cultural preservation.
His death marks the end of an era in Nigeria’s theatre community, where he remained a respected voice and mentor for decades, the family noted.
