Entertainment

Golden Prestigious Icons Awards 2025 Celebrates Distinguished Nigerians in Glitz and Glamour

Published

12 months ago

August 16, 2025

On Sunday, August 10, 2025, a remarkable event took place in Nigeria as the fourth edition of the Golden Prestigious Icons Awards (GPIA) celebrated and recognized outstanding individuals and businesses that have made significant contributions both in the country and beyond.

The ceremony has undoubtedly become one of the biggest events in Africa, honoring 24 distinguished Nigerians who have excelled in their various fields of endeavor, following the assertions of attendees of the event and experts.

According to a statement from the organisers of the event, Ambassador Emmanuel Ossai, Managing Director of Emios Holidays & Logistics Ltd, the Golden Prestigious Icons Awards returned even stronger for its fourth edition, recognizing trailblazers, innovators, and industry leaders from around the world.

Ossai noted that the glamorous event, which was held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, spotlighted exceptional achievements across film, fashion, travel, media, and entrepreneurship, featuring a distinguished lineup of speakers and inspiring award recipients.

Among the notable winners were Mike Uchegbu, who was named Outstanding Actor of the Year, and Baytal Qida International Limited (BQ Travels and Tours), which received the award for Outstanding Travel Agency of the Year. Additionally, Amb. Daniel Ogidi, Amb. Okpako Emmanuel Ufuoma, Amb. Emmanuel Ossai and several other CEOs under the age of 40 were honored during the event.

The keynote speaker was Pharm. Adetutu Afolabi, Managing Director of Wellness HMO, emphasized the importance of prioritizing health and well-being while pursuing fame and success.

Speaking on the topic, “Preventive Healthcare: Strategies for Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Reducing Chronic Disease,” Afolabi urged the audience to strike a balance between work, career, and healthy living.

“At Wellness Health Management Services, our message is simple yet powerful: Living Well to Stay Well. Health is not just the absence of illness; it’s the presence of balance, vitality, and purpose. As we celebrate icons of excellence, we are reminded that true success is sustained by wellness in mind, body, and spirit,” she advised.

Other speakers at the event included Hope Egbe, Channel Head of Life TV Africa, and Dr. Lanre Salako, a lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. They discussed the following topics: “Producing for Ratings, Reach, and Relevance” and “Mental Health in the Digital Age: Navigating the Impact of Social Media.”

Other recipients of the 2025 Golden Prestigious Icons Awards included:

Etomi Sophia: Content Creator of the Year
Stanley Orobosa: Production Designer of the Year
Dash Fashion World International: Outstanding Fashion Designer of the Year
Naija Blogger: Blogger of the Year
Prince_Sheddyeffect: Makeup Artist of the Year (Film)
Maky’s Styles: Costume Designer of the Year

Furthermore, Special Recognition Awards were presented to:

Kemz Mummy Wa: Comic Queen of the Year
RealJudy: Outstanding Versatility in Acting
Lam Chris Chidubem: Supporting Actor of the Year
Christian Ochiagha: Distinguished Actor of the Year
Shruti Tandon Dhawan: Excellence in Culinary Video Content
Kenneth Nwadike: Excellence in Acting Award
Sele O Sele: Filmmaker of the Year
M God’s Power Collection: Outstanding Creative Vision in Fashion
Sonny Mcdon W: Nollywood Iconic Award
Franq Oliz Fashion: Innovative Fashion Designer of the Year
Amb. Tolu Juliana Oladeji | 512 Travels Ltd: Outstanding Travel Agency for Family Vacation
Borderless Priority Tours: Destination Discovery: Prestigious Tourism Operator Company
Borderless Priority Tours: Excellence in Travel Planning Award
LetsConnect Tribe: Most Entrepreneur-Friendly Travel Agency Award
Chartered Institute of Hospitality, Tourism, and Management of America: Outstanding Professional Achievement in Hospitality Education Management
Details Gadgets: Gadgets Company of the Year Excellence Award
Onyiriagu Chidimma Maria-Acosta, MD/CEO, Acosta Global Travel & Tours Ltd: Most Business-Oriented Travel Agency Award
Anufly Travels and Tours: Rising Star Travel Consultant Award

Honorees for the 40 Under 40 Executive CEOs category included:

Amb. Daniel Ogidi: CEO, Aeroskye School of Aviation
Amb. Okpako Emmanuel Ufuoma: CEO, Kikinuels Travel and Tours
Dr. Kolawole Kudirat Titilope: CEO, Baytal Qida International Limited
Adekunle Adegboro: CEO, LetsConnect Tribe
Austin C. Eneanya: CEO, Parlypay
Amb. Emmanuel Ossai: CEO, Emios Holidays & Logistics Ltd
Nwakaego Jonathan Ojo: Founder/CEO, Royal Symbol Productions.

Academic honors were awarded to Prowess University in Delaware, USA, and to Dr. Kolawole Kudirat Titilope, the CEO of Baytal Qida International Limited.

The event was a testament to the remarkable talent and contributions of Nigerians, celebrated in a grand setting filled with glitz and glamour.

Many followers of previous editions of the Golden Prestigious Icons Awards have recognized the 2025 edition as exceptional. Notably, the event was packaged by Amb. Emmanuel Ossai, Managing Director of Emios Holidays & Logistics Ltd, and received endorsement from the Chartered Institute of Hospitality, Tourism, and Management of America.

The event was hosted by the trio consisting of Mouthophonist, Ego D’ Lioness, and Nah Dr. Amb. Daniel S. Olabintan.

Entertainment

Mexican influencer shot dead during TikTok livestream

Published

2 days ago

August 6, 2026

Our Reporter

Mexican social media influencer César Gastélum was shot dead while livestreaming on TikTok outside a fast-food restaurant in Culiacán on Tuesday.

Gastélum, who was known for sharing comedy videos on the platform, was reportedly streaming live with two friends when two men arrived at the scene on a motorcycle.

According to reports, one of the suspects approached the influencer and shot him at close range before fleeing with his accomplice.

Local media reported that police initially believed the victim was a food delivery rider because he and his companions were wearing bright yellow jackets and carrying delivery bags. Authorities later confirmed that the deceased was Gastélum.

Police said no arrests had been made as of the time of filing this report.

Investigators are examining cartridge casings recovered from the scene and reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to identify the suspects and determine the circumstances surrounding the killing.

Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive for the attack, and it remains unclear whether the influencer had received threats before he was killed.

Gastélum’s death is the latest in a string of attacks targeting social media personalities in Mexico.

In May 2025, beauty influencer Valeria Márquez was shot dead while livestreaming on TikTok from a beauty salon in Zapopan.

Another influencer, Leobardo Aispuro, popularly known as “El Gordo Peruci,” was also killed in Culiacán in December 2024.

Authorities have continued their investigation into Gastélum’s killing.

Entertainment

A$AP Rocky says Rihanna’s success does not intimidate him

Published

2 days ago

August 6, 2026

Our Reporter

American rapper A$AP Rocky has said he is not intimidated by the immense success and wealth of his partner, Rihanna, insisting that he is proud of her achievements.

Speaking during a recent episode of The Jason CC Show, Rocky said he does not feel entitled to Rihanna’s fortune despite her billionaire status.

According to him, while he may not be a billionaire, he is financially successful in his own right and has no reason to feel insecure because of his partner’s accomplishments.

“My woman got billions, I got multi-millions. Her success isn’t mine. I am proud of my woman. No one can make me insecure because she is richer than I am. It just doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Rocky said Rihanna’s success has never affected their relationship, adding that he celebrates her achievements rather than viewing them as a source of competition.

The couple began dating in 2020 and share three children together: sons RZA, born in May 2022, and Riot, born in August 2023, as well as a daughter, Rocki Irish Mayers, born in September 2025.

The celebrity couple have continued to attract public attention for their relationship while balancing their careers and family life.

Entertainment

Bankulli faults Paulo Okoye’s claim that Afrobeats is ‘dead or in a coma’

Published

2 days ago

August 6, 2026

Our Reporter

Grammy-nominated music executive and singer Abisagboola Oluseun, popularly known as Bankulli, has criticised celebrity show promoter Paulo Okoye over his claim that Afrobeats is “dead or in a coma.”

Okoye had sparked debate after suggesting that the genre was facing a decline, blaming the rising performance fees charged by top Nigerian artistes.

In an Instagram post, Okoye wrote: “Afrobeats Is Dead Or Coma 2026. We need to ask ourselves one honest question. Is Afrobeats slowing down, or are we creating a problem for ourselves? Artist fees have gone so high that many promoters no fit book them again. Even big companies and corporate brands are beginning to struggle with these prices.”

Responding in a lengthy post on Instagram, Bankulli described Okoye’s assertion as “faulty,” insisting that Afrobeats remains vibrant and successful.

The music executive argued that the inability of some promoters to book high-priced artistes should not be interpreted as a decline in the genre.

Sharing videos from concerts and events he had worked on over the past two months, Bankulli said they demonstrated that Afrobeats continues to enjoy strong commercial success and audience appeal.

“I saw a post on @pauloo2104’s page saying ‘AFROBEAT IS DEAD OR COMA 2026.’ In my opinion, such a statement is faulty,” he wrote.

“All the clips above happened in the last two months. I do business under the Afrobeats genre, and I can say that neither the genre nor its artistes are dead or in a coma. What we may be experiencing is a shift in musical tastes, which is normal, but making such a statement is not right.”

Bankulli suggested that Okoye’s comments may have been influenced by the increasing costs of booking some of the industry’s biggest stars.

“It is okay if some promoters are finding it difficult to book top-performing artistes, but that should not be used to conclude that Afrobeats is dying,” he said.

He added that while some artistes may have priced themselves beyond the reach of certain promoters, there are many other talented performers with loyal fan bases capable of delivering successful shows.

According to Bankulli, the Nigerian music industry has witnessed a change in its pricing structure, but that does not diminish the global growth and influence of Afrobeats.