Nigerian afro-house singer, Niniola Apata, has paid an emotional tribute to her late husband, Michael Ndika, revealing that he played a pivotal role in her music career and discouraged her from taking a break from the industry.
In a video widely believed to have been recorded during activities held in honour of her late husband and shared by @ChuksEricE via X on Friday, the Grammy-nominated artiste recounted how their relationship evolved into a partnership that shaped her career and personal life.
Ndika, the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform focused on afro-house and contemporary African music, died on May 19, 2026, at the age of 44.
Speaking through tears, Niniola described their relationship as a “love story” and credited her husband with helping her achieve success in the music industry.
“My story with Michael is a love story. Michael did everything for me.
“Everything was for me, he was breathing for me. He loved me, I loved him so much. And I learned so much from Michael,” she said.
The singer said Ndika transformed her life after they met, introducing her to new experiences and encouraging her career despite her naturally reserved personality.
According to her, he often assured her that he would make her a superstar and remained the driving force behind her success.
Niniola disclosed that even when she considered stepping away from music, her husband persuaded her to continue.
“But Michael met me raw, and he said, I’ll make you a superstar.’ And he did. I was just the face and the voice, but Michael was the engine.
“Even when I decided to, you know, give music a break, he didn’t let it,” she said.
The singer also reflected on the void left by his death, describing him as the most important person in her life.
“The first person I saw in the morning was Michael. And the last person who closed my eyes at night was Michael. So now what do I do? Tell me, what do I do? Michael was the best thing, the best person that ever happened to me,” she said.
She also thanked the Ndika family for accepting her and acknowledged the shock that followed the news of his death, while apologising to those who felt hurt by the circumstances surrounding the disclosure.
The revelation of Ndika’s death surprised many fans and industry observers after Niniola disclosed last week that her husband of 13 years had passed away.
The announcement drew widespread attention because many members of the public were unaware that the singer was married.
Watch video here
𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗢: 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗦𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗛𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰
Video: X| ChuksEricE pic.twitter.com/kq798Ylymz
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) June 5, 2026
