I’m writing this letter on behalf of all Nigerians. I’m not here to request an iPad or a car, though if you could, that would be fantastic (especially the car, as I’m sick of riding the danfo bus). No, this is a request for a better Nigeria.
Honestly, Santa, I have beef with you. How do you have the power to give people whatever they want (as long as they’ve been good), and you haven’t given me the better Nigeria I’ve been asking for? I’ve been a good girl for so long: I’ve stopped stealing meat from the pot in the middle of the night, I now do chores without complaining. Meanwhile, our evil Nigerian leaders continue to acquire new cars, houses, vacations, and so on. Is it equitable? Who are you on?
I’ve returned to inquire. And I need you to come through for me and other Nigerians now more than ever. 2022 has been a particularly difficult year for us. ASUU went on strike for eight months, threatening students’ lives. Some even abandoned school to start their own businesses. This year, the national grid failed more times than people at a Michael Jackson concert. Electricity supply was limited, affecting business and other aspects of people’s daily lives. The answer is yes.
Then there was the insane inflation. Food prices seemed to double every week. Santa, Double Chickwizz is now 1,500 (it was 1,000 at the start of 2022), can you believe it? One pack of Indomie costs 140 (was 70), evaporated milk costs 600 (was 300), yam costs 2000 (was 800), and one egg costs 100 (was 50). Do you see how we’re suffering?
Also, insecurity is at an all-time high, with people being laid off or owed salaries for months, the naira depreciating, SARS still operating, and no one has responded to the Lekki tollgate massacre of 2020.
If you’re wondering what our leaders are doing about these issues, they’re out there being actors, influencers, travel bloggers, content creators, dancers, and jokers, devising policies that will make Nigerians’ lives even more difficult. And that’s why I’ve come to you for help, Santa. Can you make a new Nigeria your Christmas gift to all Nigerians? We’ve seen enough shege abeg.
Lolade Okusanya, a rising movie star, sheds warm tears as she thanks veteran actor Toyin Abraham for bringing her to the spotlight.
Lolade Okusanya expressed gratitude for the opportunity to appear in Toyin’s latest film, Ijakumo, at the premiere.
Famous actors in the film include Kolawole Ajeyemi, Kunle Remi, Lillian Afegbai, Olumide Oworu, and Eso Dike, among others.
Lolade poured out her heart while expressing gratitude for being a part of the film’s cast, emphasizing how she paid nothing for her dress, the hotel used for the premiere, and also received a paycheck for being in the film.
It was quite an emotional moment as both Toyin Abraham and Lolade shed a tear or two while hugging each other tightly.
The prize money for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is $440 million, and here is a breakdown of how it is distributed among participating countries.
This year’s tournament featured 32 teams from around the world, including 13 from Europe, five from Africa, four from North America, four from South America, and six from Asia.
Qatar, Ecuador, Wales, Iran, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Tunisia, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Costa Rica, Serbia, Cameroon, Ghana, and Uruguay were among the teams to earn $9 million each.
Others who advanced to the round of 16 – the United States, Senegal, Australia, Poland, Spain, Japan, Switzerland, and South Korea – each received $13 million. Brazil, the Netherlands, Portugal, and England earned $17 million each for reaching the quarter-finals.
Morocco earned $25 million for finishing fourth.
Croatia, which finished third, received $27 million.
The runner-up between Argentina and France will receive $30 million, while the winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will receive $42 million.
The tournament will officially conclude on Sunday, December 18, 2022, when France takes on Argentina for a chance to lift the trophy and win the grand prize.
Argentina won the 2022 World Cup on penalties, defeating defending champions France 4-2 after a dramatic 3-3 tie after extra time.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a calm penalty conversion, and Angel Di Maria doubled the lead 13 minutes later.
With Argentina already cruising to victory, Mbappe stepped up and scored twice in 97 seconds to send the game into extra time.
Kylian Mbappe
Argentina took the lead again during extra time, but Mbappe sealed a stunning hat-trick with another penalty as the game ended 3-3 and went to a penalty shootout.
Argentina won the World Cup after converting all four of its penalty kicks, while France missed two.
Cristiano Ronaldo may have parted ways with Manchester United, but Gary Neville believes the Premier League hasn’t seen the last of the Portuguese legend.
WHAT OCCURED? Following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which the five-time Ballon d’Or winner slammed prominent figures from United’s past and present, the club decided to release the legendary figure as a free agent. Various landing spots for Ronaldo are now being touted, from America to the Middle East, but Neville hopes his former teammate can find another club that allows him to shine on the biggest stage – with the possibility of remaining in England.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Piers Morgan
WHAT THEY SAID: Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said: “How does he see the end of his career playing out? Is he seeing the end of his career playing in minor leagues, or does he see himself playing in one of the major leagues and continuing at that level? I hope it’s the latter and he can find a club in a major league, even the Premier League – I’d love for him to stay in the Premier League at a club that can have him up front and we can watch him every week. That’s what we want to see, him playing.”
Cristiano Ronaldo
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Ronaldo has been training with Real Madrid in recent days in an effort to stay fit and sharp following a 2022 World Cup campaign that ended his international career at the highest level. “I felt sorry for Cristiano in the end when he was walking down that tunnel in tears – that long walk down the tunnel that they showed after the game against Morocco,” Neville said of seeing the 37-year-old bow out of that tournament after playing a bit-part role from the bench. That’s never a good image because you know he’s thinking, ‘This is it, I’ll never play in this tournament again.'”
WHAT COMES NEXT? While much of the speculation surrounding Ronaldo’s future has centered on a supposedly lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia, new rumors suggest that Chelsea may yet rekindle their interest in the all-time great, allowing him to continue gracing the Premier League stage.
Nollywood has had a phenomenal year in 2022. It’s time to accept that Nollywood ate this year, whether it was because to the launch of a new streaming service or an action movie that had spectators hanging by their necks.
Even though the move to watch more streaming content used up a lot of our data and nearly drove us into bankruptcy, some Nollywood actors and their performances were worth the time and money spent.
Genovevah Umeh — Blood Sisters and Far From Home
Geneovevah Umeh
It’s no small task to steal the show from a group of actors as talented as Kate Henshaw, Ramsey Nouah, Kehinde Bankole, and Gabriel Afolayan. However, Genovevah Umeh successfully committed that crime on EbonyLife’s Blood Sisters. Genovevah’s acting transformed what could have been a caricature into a fully realized human being with eyes that spoke much more than any language could.
Unquestionably, Genovevah will be the 2022 breakout star.
Meg Otanwa — For Maria: Ebun Pataki
Meg Otanwa
Meg Otanwa is the only actor on this list who has only appeared in one movie, but anyone who saw her performance in For Maria: Ebun Pataki will agree that that was all she needed to round off the year 2022 on a high note. Meg’s subtle portrayal of Derin, a young mother battling postpartum depression, had the internet talking and researching for weeks. She went deeper than any actor I’ve seen in a while.
Meg Otanwa gave the best performance of the year in what was the role of a lifetime.
Bimbo Ademoye — Anikulapo, Iya Barakat Teropi Secxxion and Selina
Bimbo Ademoye
The unending gift that is Bimbo Ademoye. Bimbo has regularly given outstanding performances ever since catching my eye with her colorful character in Sugar Rush in 2019, even when the movie’s premise is used as a weapon against her.
Despite the praise she has received for her comedic timing, Kunle Afolayan’s puzzled Anikulapo benefited greatly by Bimbo’s dramatic and sensual performance as Queen Arolake. P.S. If you came to watch the funny Bimbo, her Instagram skit turned web series, Iya Barakat Teropi Secxxion will have you laughing so hard you’ll spit out your lunch.
Uzoamaka Aniunoh — Juju Stories andDiiche
Uzoamaka Aniunoh
Each project is completed by Uzoamaka Aniunoh, who makes decisions and acts in ways that feel appropriate for the role she is portraying. The closest thing to being is acting. Uzoamaka’s portrayal of Inspector Ijeoma Anene on Diiche is one of the rare performances that renews my trust in television, even if I’ve pondered aloud why Nigerian TV shows don’t have the same appeal they once did.
Deyemi Okanlawon — Blood Sisters andElesin Oba: The King’s Horseman
Deyemi Okanlawon
I can’t be upset since Deyemi Okanlawon genuinely has acting talent, even though he’s quickly becoming the Noah Centineo of Nollywood. A massive flex for any actor would be marking attendance on not just one but two significant Netflix films (the third, Far From Home, drops this December), but all of Deyemi’s flexing takes place onscreen.
Deyemi is obedient and devoted as Olunde in Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman, a far cry from his horrifying and repulsive performance as Kola in Blood Sisters.
Odunlade Adekola — King of Thieves andElesin Oba: The King’s Horseman
Odunlade Adekola
It’s obvious that Odunlade Adekola wants you to know that he is more than simply the king of memes in 2022. In the Yoruba retribution epic King of Thieves, Odunlade plays the imposing Oba Adegbite Tadenikaro, turning down the humor while still creating a fascinating and memorable figure.
While his “Father Christmas” beard in Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman might be disconcerting, it takes nothing from Odunlade’s riveting work as the film’s conflicted eponymous character, a performance that’s one of 2022’s best.
Bisola Aiyeola — Dwindle, Flawsome andDinner at My Place
Bisola Aiyeola
Given how well Bisola Aiyeola continues to perform in her parts, it’s difficult to criticize Nollywood producers that choose to use former reality TV stars in their productions. Bisola is a versatile actress who has the ability to make her audience laugh as though they are seeing a stand-up performance in one scene and cry as though they have just been given breakfast in the next. Because that role hasn’t yet been written, I’m waiting for one that makes the most of her abilities.
Gabriel Afolayan — For Maria: Ebun Pataki, Blood Sisters and U Turn
Gabriel Afolayan
With his eyes closed, Gabriel Afolayan would be included on any list of the finest performances of the year, if we’re keeping it at 100. Even when the movie is unworthy of his talent, he remains devoted to every character and keeps it entertaining. Thankfully, Gabriel had the opportunity to dive into a wide range of delicious parts in 2022, and he devoured them all.
Gabriel produced a wide range of characters, with the only thing they had in common being the actor who performed them, from the devoted but perplexed husband in For Maria: Ebun Pataki to the cunning and neglected brother in Blood Sisters.
Tina Mba — For Maria: Ebun Pataki, U-Turn and Finding Hubby 2
Tina Mba
Even in modest supporting roles, very few actresses have the same command of the screen as Tina Mba. While it may have been simple to despise her in For Maria: Ebun Pataki, Tina portrays the part with such fervor that we can’t help but comprehend her character’s point of view, whether it is correct or incorrect.
The scene where she anoints her daughter-in-chamber law’s and then applies some on her breast to induce lactation is one I can’t get out of my head. The most Nigerian mother thing ever, despite being quite difficult to see.
