VIDEO: Niniola Pays Tribute To Late Husband, Says He Stopped Her From Leaving Music

Nigerian afro-house singer Niniola Apata has shared a deeply emotional tribute to her late husband, Michael Ndika, revealing the profound impact he had on her music career and personal life. In a video circulating online, the Grammy-nominated artist recounted their relationship as a "love story," emphasizing Ndika's instrumental role in shaping her journey in the music industry.

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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.

Niniola described her husband, the CEO of multimedia platform NaijaReview, as someone who "did everything for me" and "was breathing for me." She credited him with transforming her life after they met, introducing her to new experiences and nurturing her career despite her naturally reserved personality. "He said, I’ll make you a superstar.’ And he did," Niniola stated, acknowledging that while she was the face and voice, Michael was the "engine" driving her success.

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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.

A particularly poignant revelation was Ndika's intervention when Niniola considered stepping away from music. "Even when I decided to, you know, give music a break, he didn’t let it," she said, highlighting his unwavering support and belief in her talent. She reflected on the immense void his death has left, describing him as the "first person I saw in the morning" and the "last person who closed my eyes at night."

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Even when I decided to, you know, give music a break, he didn’t let it.

Michael Ndika passed away on May 19, 2026, at the age of 44. His death, which occurred after 13 years of marriage, surprised many fans who were unaware of Niniola's marital status. Niniola also expressed gratitude to the Ndika family for accepting her and apologized to anyone hurt by the circumstances surrounding the disclosure of his passing.

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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.