At 31, Lagos-born Espago is redefining what it means to be a late bloomer in the Nigerian music
space. After spending years as a chef, designer, and farmer, Espago turned to music just a year
ago on a journey sparked by deep loss, life experience, and self-discovery.
What makes him different? It’s not just his sound, it’s his story. Espago brings a calm but
confident energy that mirrors his Lagos upbringing: a blend of vibrant Fuji rhythms and soulful
Afrobeat traditions like King Sunny Ade, shaped by global legends like Michael Jackson and
Celine Dion. His voice? Professionally trained. His brand? Stylish, grounded, and intentional.
Espago didn’t wait for the industry to find him; he found his own way in, teaching himself,
searching out producers, and building his identity from scratch. With no major label backing and
no big-name features, he has still built a brand marked by boldness, emotion, and Lagos street
authenticity.
He’s not just making music; he’s building a lifestyle brand. His creative roots are in food,
fashion, and music fused into something richer than just a “sound.” It’s a full experience. While
he hasn’t performed live yet, he’s putting in the work behind the scenes, mentoring new artists,
recording regularly to sharpen his voice and brand for bigger stages ahead.
In a scene dominated by speed, Espago’s journey is about intentional growth, honest
expression, and emotional connection.
As the new class of Afro‑HipHop begins to take shape, Espago stands out not just for what he’s
making, but for who he is becoming.

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. President Bola Tinubu will address the nation in a broadcast today, Sunday, August 4, 2024. Mr Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement, on Saturday, saying the broadcast would hold at 7am.

2. The Commissioner of Police in Borno State, Yusuf Lawal, on Saturday confirmed the killing of four persons along Baga Road in Maiduguri, Borno State during the nationwide #EndBadGoverment protest. He said Boko Haram elements infiltrated the protesters and killed four persons on Thursday with explosives at a filling station.

3. Many persons have been feared killed while others sustained injuries as hoodlums clashed with security operatives in Kano. It was gathered that Rijiyar Lemo, Kurna to Bachirawa areas in Fagge Local Government, Kofar Nassarawa in Kano municipal and Unguwa Uku area of Tarauni Local Government are the worst hit areas.

4. The leadership of the organised labour, on Saturday, warned the Nigeria Police Force and other security forces to stop what it described as a “massacre” of protesters carrying out nationwide demonstrations against hunger in the land.

5. Leading Human Rights group, Amnesty International Nigeria, has said over 50 protesters were arrested in Abuja on the third day of the demonstration against hardship in the land.

6. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged the police and other security agencies to stop shooting and killing protesters demanding good governance in Nigeria. Atiku in a statement on Saturday, questioned the professionalism of the security agencies in the handling of the ongoing demonstrations.

7. Some of the organisers and supporters of the ongoing protest have set up pages to raise over N4bn through GoFundMe, a popular online crowdfunding platform. A check on Saturday showed that a total of N4.1bn had been benchmarked to be donated through accounts created by three GoFundMe users.

8. Tragedy struck again in Imo State on Saturday evening when some gunmen reportedly shot dead the President-General of Umucheke Okwe autonomous community in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, Hyginus Ohazurike. Six village heads from the autonomous community were also allegedly killed by the gunmen.

9. The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh has said his men were not responsible for the death of a teenager in the Kubwa area of the FCT. In a viral video, a man claimed that police, while dispersing protesters, shot dead a teenager in the Kubwa area.

10. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu has said President Bola Tinubu is keeping an eye on the ongoing #EndBadGovernance demonstrations across the country.

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that organized labor did not agree on any specific figure as the new minimum wage. The NLC was reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s claims that an agreement had been reached on new national minimum wages.

2. The 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, has written to the Police Commissioner in Kano, requesting special security arrangements for the upcoming Sallah festivities. This was contained in a letter with reference number Ref: HRH/ADM/06/1/217, dated June 10, 2024, and signed by the Private Secretary to the Emir.

3. A former national vice chairman (North-West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has withdrawn his membership from the party. Lukman, a former member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), stated on Wednesday that he left the party due to a “lack of internal democracy” and alleged failure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow reforms within the party.

4. Former President Goodluck Jonathan has alleged that some state governors are encouraging criminals for political use, instead of promoting the best minds in the civil service. Jonathan made the remark on Wednesday in Benin while inaugurating the state secretariat refurbished by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

5. The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in last year’s elections, Peter Obi, has stated that Nigeria is not practicing true democracy and has deteriorated into dictatorship and classical state capture. He highlighted that leadership failures have led to uncontrolled systemic corruption, high levels of insecurity, a lack of freedom of speech, increasing poverty rates, and unprecedented levels of hunger and hardship.

6. Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerian resident doctors to remain in the country and support President Bola Tinubu’s administration in improving healthcare delivery. He said if doctors resisted the temptation of seeking greener pastures abroad, they would realize that President Tinubu had their interests at heart.

7. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has rejected an application filed by the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking the court’s leave to challenge the order that outlawed the group. In a judgment, the Court of Appeal upheld the argument by the lawyer for the Federal Government, Oyin Koleosho, that the application, which Kanu’s lawyer Alloy Ejimakor filed on behalf of the detainee, was inappropriate.

8. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Lamuwa, has been suspended by the Office of the Head of Service over a sexual harassment allegation. The Head of Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan, said the permanent secretary would be on suspension pending the outcome of a probe into the allegation against him.

9. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday said ex-Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, who is accused of N80.2bn fraud, had ridiculed the Nigerian justice system by failing to present himself for trial in court. The EFCC Acting Zonal Director, Benin Zonal Command, Mr. Effa Okim, stated this during a familiarization visit to the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

10. The Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba on Tuesday sentenced Inspector Ubi Ebri of the Nigeria Police Force to death on a murder charge. The court, presided over by Justice C. D. Diai, convicted and sentenced the inspector to death for killing a phone dealer, Mr. Onyeka Ibeh, in Asaba.