Entertainment

Nigerian Students Turn Strippers, Gigolos In London

Published

11 years ago

May 8, 2015

Schooling in London is
often regarded as a privilege that never comes on a platter of Gold to an average Nigerian, a visa to London is like a ticket to heaven with rigours and meticulous scrutiny suffered by innumerable applicants at the embassy. Fortunate students that eventually pass through the golden gate and make the trip to the United Kingdom bear the burden of hope cast on them by anixious families, relatives, friends and neigbours.
Sadly, this hope appears to be misplaced as some of these students end up in the streets of London as prostitutes,gigolos, strippers and guests at nude parties and sex clubs. It is said that “when a man is tired of London , he is tired of life for there is in London all that life can afford”. It was further revealed that some Nigerian students including ladies have lost the flame of their academic quest as some of them have ended up as victims of crime in the United Kingdom.
Quite disturbing was the shocking revelation of Nigerian students who dropped out of their universities and colleges for wild goose chase for love and British citizenship. A large number of these students smartly divert the fund sent by their Nigerian parents for studies in their romantic adventures with the hope of getting British Citizenship. Most of them get trapped at the end of the relationship, some even go as far as arranging court marriages which often have a boomerang effect because of the tightening of the system by the immigration office.
However, this does not disprove the fact about some honest Nigerian students who truly fall in love with older women, maintain the relationship, nurture the children from such relationship and live a happy life thereafter, but those who abuse the system make dating difficult for the genuine ones.
Apart from the university dropouts and those that shine at drinking parlours, strippers at nude clubs, sex hawkers and prostitutes at red-light zones and gigolos who spend their youthful energy on the flapping laps of grandmas, some Nigerian students take up menial jobs such as toilet cleaning, security, etc to survive while still in school. Only a few skilled ones get employed in part time jobs in the technological and medical areas amongst other jobs.
One thing is that although clubbing and parties make many students to forget their books, Nigerian students rarely associate with drugs, because of the fear of deportation and discontinuation of their academic studies. It was also gathered that Nigeria has the third highest international students population in United Kingdom (UK), competing with China and India.
Inspite of these fallouts, several Nigerian students who focused on their studies have gained good employment in the UK, some travel round the Europe for one big job or the other, these bright stars shine in faraway lands, while their fatherland dwells in darkness, sadly several of them turn their backs at home, forgetting the sacrifice of their parents and guardians during their years of study.
Investigation has revealed that among the cities in the United Kingdom, London, a city of about eight million people and the capital city of England and the United Kingdom attract more Nigerian students than others. Their choice of London could be because it is an international city, well revered for its academic, technology and tourist nature.
It also houses the seat of the central government of United Kingdom (UK) Downing Street (where the queen of England lives), Scotland yard and various government offices and departments. It is famously accorded the financial capital of the world after New York City.
London has lots of attractions like London Bridge, National Theatre London, Eye and many other historical monuments, Landmarks and gardens as well as the Nothinghill Carnival, the largest street carnival in Europe with over a million visitors.
Culled from Daily Sun.

Artistes performing on stage at a Port Harcourt Night Club

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

1 month ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes becomes Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of 2025, earning ?1.77bn in under four weeks.

Multi-award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has done it again, and this time, the numbers speak louder than applause.

Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has officially emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025, pulling in an astonishing ?1.767 billion in less than four weeks.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
Earlier in its release cycle, the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, revealed that Behind The Scenes smashed five opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever recorded on Boxing Day, with ?129.5 million in one day. That announcement already hinted that something unusual was unfolding.

Reacting to the milestone, FilmOne described the moment as both surreal and communal, crediting audience loyalty for pushing the film to the top spot once again as the number-one movie of the weekend. And that sentiment feels accurate. This wasn’t just ticket sales; it was momentum.

What makes this achievement even more striking is that Behind The Scenes is Funke Akindele’s third film to cross the ?1 billion mark. Before now, there was A Tribe Called Judah, and then Everybody Loves Jenifa, a film that didn’t just open big, but went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. At this point, it’s no longer a fluke. It’s a pattern.

Part of Behind The Scenes’ success lies in strategy. The film enjoyed advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, quietly building curiosity and conversation before its nationwide release on December 12. By the time it officially hit cinemas, audiences already felt like they needed to see it.

Then there’s the cast. The film brings together a lineup that feels deliberately stacked: Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and several others. Familiar faces, strong fan bases, and performances that kept word-of-mouth alive long after opening weekend.

Still, beyond timing and casting, there’s something else at work here. Funke Akindele understands Nigerian audiences. Their humour, their pacing, their emotional buttons. She doesn’t guess, she calculates, experiments, listens, and refines. That understanding has slowly turned into box-office dominance.

Behind The Scenes crossing ?1.77 billion isn’t just another headline; it’s confirmation. Funke Akindele has moved from being a successful actress to becoming one of the most reliable commercial forces Nollywood has ever produced. Three-billion-naira films don’t happen by luck. They happen when storytelling, business sense, and audience trust align.

And right now, that alignment seems firmly in her hands.

Entertainment

Adekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twin Babies

Published

1 month ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Popular Nigerian music stars, Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simi, have become parents again this time to twins.

The award-winning singer shared the joyful update on his Snapchat story on Wednesday, confirming the expansion of their family.

“Asked God for another child and he blessed me double,” she wrote.

While the couple has not yet disclosed the gender of the newborns, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of warm wishes from admirers, fellow celebrities, and industry colleagues.

Speculation had intensified in December when Simi posted a video on Instagram accompanied by the caption, “From my baby, for my babies.”

The clip showed her with a growing baby bump, fueling anticipation that another child was on the way.

Their latest blessings arrive just weeks after Simi highlighted a scene from Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love is the Same,” further stirring excitement among fans.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Adekunle Gold and Simi who tied the knot in 2019 after a long history of friendship and musical synergy remain one of Nigeria’s most admired entertainment power couples. Both artistes were once signed to X3M Music before soaring into mainstream acclaim.

The pair welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.

Entertainment

Jesse Flames Opens 2026 With ‘Praise The Lord’ Featuring Magnito

Published

1 month ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

After closing out 2025 with the release of “Praise the Lord” featuring Magnito, Jesse Flames enters the new year with renewed clarity and purpose, continuing to build a body of work rooted in intention rather than noise. In a moment where Afrobeats is moving faster and louder than ever, his approach remains measured and deliberate, prioritizing meaning, craft, and longevity over momentary attention. The official music video arrives January 10.

Following the momentum of his breakout single “FLEX,” “Praise the Lord” represents a shift from celebration to grounding. Reflective and soulful, the record centers gratitude, growth, and perspective, capturing a quieter confidence that resonates beyond a single moment.

“This song is about recognizing the full picture,” Jesse shares. “The work people see and the work they don’t. The lessons, the setbacks, the growth.”

The collaboration with Magnito, a respected voice in Nigerian hip hop known for his sharp lyricism and cultural authenticity, adds depth and weight to the record, reinforcing its themes of resilience, faith, and self reflection.

Released in December at the height of Detty December, “Praise the Lord” became a natural soundtrack for both celebration and reflection as the year came to a close. With the video arriving in January, the record takes on new meaning, opening the year as a tone setter rather than a reset.

Born in the United States, raised in Festac, Lagos, and now based in London, Jesse Flames brings a global perspective to his sound, blending Afrobeats, hip hop, and melodic soul into something sleek and intentional. His music reflects lived experience and cultural nuance rather than trend chasing.

The Tide Entertainment reports that with over 11 million streams, performances at O2 Brixton Academy and OVO Arena Wembley, and coverage from The Guardian and Business Post Nigeria, Jesse’s rise has been steady and self made. Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, he is preparing for collaborations with Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Smurlee.

“Praise the Lord” ft. Magnito is available now on all streaming platforms.