Nigerian afro-house singer, Niniola Apata, has paid an emotional tribute to her late husband, Michael Ndika, while revealing how much influence he had on her music journey and personal growth.
In a video believed to have been recorded during a remembrance event for the late Media Executive and shared online on Friday, the singer spoke openly about their relationship and how he stood strongly behind her career. Ndika, who was the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a platform focused on Afro-House and contemporary African music, passed away on May 19, 2026, at the age of 44.
Visibly emotional in the video, Niniola described their relationship as deeply loving and life-changing, saying he played a major role in shaping her success in the music industry.
In her words, she said:
“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.
She further explained that her husband was not only a partner in life but also a strong supporter of her career ambitions. According to her, he believed in her talent from the beginning and constantly encouraged her to push forward in music.
“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.
Niniola also shared how difficult life has been since his passing, describing him as the most important person in her daily life and routine.
“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 expressed appreciation to her late husband’s family for their support and acceptance of her, and also acknowledged the emotional pain that followed the news of his death.
The singer had earlier revealed that her husband of 13 years passed away, a development that surprised many fans who were unaware of her marriage.
The tribute has continued to draw emotional reactions from fans and members of the entertainment industry, who sympathized with her loss.
“Michael did everything for me. He was breathing for me. He loved me so much. I learnt so much from him. When he met me, he said I will make you a superstar. Michael was my engine. He was the first person I saw in the morning and the last person at night”
-Singer Niniola at her… pic.twitter.com/vuMCQmFuAU
— CHUKS
(@ChuksEricE) June 4, 2026