My Late Husband Didn’t Allow Me Quit Music – Niniola Apata 

Nigerian singer Niniola Apata has spoken on her late husband, Michael Ndika, and the role he played in her life and music journey.

Naija News reports that in a video shared online during a gathering held in his honour, she looked back on their relationship and how it shaped both her career and personal growth.

Michael Ndika, who was the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a platform focused on African music, died on May 19, 2026 at the age of 44.

Niniola described how he supported her strongly from the start, giving her confidence and pushing her to keep going in music even when she thought about taking a break.

She explained that he believed in her talent and often told her he would help her become a star.

The songstress also reflected on how deeply connected they were in daily life, noting that he was always close to her and played a major role in her routine and emotional support.

The singer added that his death left a painful gap in her life and changed her everyday experience completely.

She also appreciated his family for accepting her and spoke about how difficult it has been coping with the loss.

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. 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. 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.”