In an emotional homage to her late husband, Michael Ndika, Nigerian afro-house singer Niniola Apata revealed that he was crucial to her musical career and dissuaded her from quitting the business.
In a video that is generally thought to have been taken on Friday at events honouring her late husband. The Grammy-nominated performer described how their friendship developed into a collaboration that influenced both her personal and professional lives.
On May 19, 2026, Ndika, the CEO of NaijaReview, a multimedia portal devoted to modern African music and afro-house, passed away 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.
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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.
