Queen Salawa Abeni: Celebrating A Musical Icon at 65

Celebrating the 65th birthday of Queen Salawa Abeni is honouring enduring talent and impact, including marking her decades of excellent, high-energy performances.

Born on May 5, 1961 in Ijebu Waterside, Ogun State, Nigeria, Queen Abeni rose from humble beginnings to become Nigeria’s legendary ‘Queen of Waka Music’. She debuted her first musical work in 1976 with an album under Leader Records in honour of the assassinated Nigerian military Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed. The album was recorded as the firstal by a female Yoruba singer to sell over one million copies in Nigeria.

Queen Salawa Abeni’s musical works from age 13, undoubtedly, inspires, moves audiences, and shifts cultural landscapes. She has really proved her worth as a female super star in her ‘waka’ genre to successfully compete in a male-dominated music industry. Beyond music, Queen Salawa Abeni’s influence is equally recognized through appearances in Nollywood, acknowledging her cultural impact as a pioneer and trailblazer in her ‘waka’ genre and Nigerian music generally.

Research indicates that Queen Abeni is creative and original, with songs that connect with music audiences irrespective of choices. Queen Salawa Abeni, with over 40 albums, pioneered the style of standing while singing. Her predecessors in the ‘waka’ genre were known for sitting while singing. Though she confessed that the decision was not a deliberate choice. “I started singing Waka standing. Those singing before me were sitting while singing. But it was because I was young so small that my microphone back then was almost beyond reach,” she disclosed.

Queen Abeni had an inspiring story about her beginning as a singer, which highlights her challenges and passion. When she was nine years old, she walked into the Lagos branch of the Leader Records and requested to be allowed to play a demo tape. The producer, thinking it was a joke, put her tape on his desk and promptly forgot about it, only to be shocked later on hearing the nine year-old girl sing at a social function in Epe, Lagos, in the most sonorous, and compelling mature voice. Without further ado, with the permission of her parents, the recording label owner took her to his studio where she had her debut on late Murtala Muhammed, which became one of the bestselling Nigerian songs at the time.

In 1977, Abeni founded ‘The Waka Modernisers’ going on to become one of the most successful artistes in Nigeria in the 80s and remaining the leader of the genre till date.

Some of her evergreen hit albums and live plays include Gentle Lady, Iba Omode Iba Agba, Shooting Stars, Ijamba Motor, Okiki Kan To Sele/Yinka Esho Eso, Orin Tuntun, Irohin Mecca, Ile Aiye, Omiyale, Ija O Dara, Ikilo, Enie Tori Ele Ku, Challenge Cup ’84, Adieu Alhaji Haruna Ishola, Indian Waka, Ìfẹ́ Dára Púpọ̀, Mo Tun De Bi Mo Se Nde, Awa Lagba, Abode America, Ileya Special, I Love You, We Are The Children, Maradona, Candle, Experience, Congratulations, Cheer Up, Waka Carnival, Beware, Live In London ’96, Appreciation, Good Morning In America, and more.

How did her parents react to her passion for music at nine years old? She confessed that it was challenging. “It was not easy, especially with my father. He opposed my decision, often warning that making music a career was such a dangerous idea. He tried to dissuade me from pursuing music, but I remained committed to my belief,” she stated.

There is one thing most creative singers do seem to have in common; Their children are exposed or encouraged to take to their craft. Queen Salawa Abeni is not an exception. Her three children, Deola, Sikiru and Big Sheriff are also into music, with Big Sheriff taking his concept to the international standard.

The ‘Waka Queen’ has had her fair share of life and professional challenges. “Life has taught me many valuable lessons. I’ve faced challenges, including having a child at 17 who passed away, and being sick for five years. But I’ve learned to persevere,” she disclosed. At 65, she looks 45. What is the secret to her youthful looks? She says she follows a healthy diet, exercises regularly; doesn’t drink or smoke. And she takes just Coca Cola and water.

Queen Salawa Abeni, at 65, continues to be a significant figure in the Nigerian music scene. Her career and personal strength will continue to make her an enduring icon of resilience within and outside the Nigerian music industry.

Lagos Island LG Appoints Adeyeri as Chief Press Secretary

The Lagos Island Local Government has announced the appointment of Mr. Olabode Adeyeri as the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman, Hon. Taiwo Ajibade Oyekan.

The appointment, which takes effect from April 1, 2026, was approved by the Executive Chairman as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the local government’s communication framework, enhance transparency, and improve the dissemination of policies and programmes to the public.

Speaking on the appointment, Oyekan said the decision reflects the administration’s commitment to effective governance through strategic communication.

“The appointment of Mr. Adeyeri is a deliberate step towards strengthening our engagement with the public and ensuring that our policies and programmes are communicated clearly and effectively,” he said.

He added that the new Chief Press Secretary brings valuable experience that will enhance the administration’s media relations.

“We are confident that his wealth of experience in journalism and communications will further improve transparency and deepen public trust in our administration,” Oyekan stated.

Mr. Adeyeri, a seasoned journalist, writer, and communications professional, brings extensive experience in media practice and public engagement to his new role.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Olabisi Onabanjo University and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos. Between 2011 and 2018, he worked with Globacom Nigeria Limited, where he served as Corporate Support Executive and Glo 1 Business Support Executive.

Adeyeri is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Citizen Communications Network, a position he has held since 2010. He is also the Publisher of Citizen Magazine and Citizen NewsNG.

Described as a prolific journalist and community development enthusiast, Adeyeri is widely regarded as a result-driven professional and committed scholar, with a passion for advancing progressive ideals and contributing meaningfully to societal development.

Reiterating confidence in the appointment, the chairman noted:

“We believe Mr. Adeyeri will play a key role in projecting the vision of this administration and strengthening the bridge between the government and the people.”

What An Officer Told Me About IGP Olatunji Disu

Written by Adeniran Bamisaye

Years ago, while driving in Lagos, a police officer stopped me. There was nothing unusual about it. He asked for my vehicle particulars, and I handed them over, perhaps not in the most cheerful manner at first. But somewhere between the routine and the silence, a conversation began.

I asked him about his work, just casually, and then I mentioned a name, Olatunji Disu. At the time, he was not the Inspector General yet; I believe he was still a Commissioner of Police. But the moment I mentioned the name, something changed in the officer’s expression.

“Ah! That man…” he said, almost cutting himself short.

Curious, I asked what he meant.

What followed stayed with me. He told me that when he served under Mr. Disu in Owo, Ondo State, there was one thing he could never forget: you could not work with him and be hungry. Not because of charity or handouts, but because he genuinely cared about the welfare of the officers under his command. Then he added something that struck me deeply, that he could confidently say this was a leader who cared.

That immediately reminded me of something a mentor once told me, that you can measure a leader by how much they care about the welfare of their people. That day, on the roadside, in a conversation I did not plan to have, I heard a testimony, not from a podium or a press release, but from someone who had experienced that leadership up close.

When he was eventually appointed Inspector General of Police, one theme stood out clearly: welfare. And I believed it, not because it sounded good, but because I had already heard the evidence. Beyond words, actions began to follow, and what stood out was not just the actions themselves, but the speed with which they came. In a system where delay is often the norm, responsiveness becomes a language of its own.

One of the earliest signals was symbolic yet powerful: the decision to organise a proper pulling out parade for his predecessor, something that had not happened in about sixteen years. Institutions are not only built on systems; they are sustained by memory, respect, and continuity, and that moment quietly restored all three.

Beyond symbolism, there were more structural signals. There has been a renewed push for accountability, with a visible willingness to ensure that erring officers are not shielded but disciplined. There has also been a reawakening of channels like the Complaint Response Unit, CRU, reinforcing the idea that citizens should not feel voiceless in their encounters with the police. Alongside this is a clear direction toward modernisation, strengthening investigative capacity, embracing technology, and repositioning policing to be more intelligence led than force driven.

Aside from these developments, there has also been public conversation around the legality of tenure, particularly in light of existing age and compulsory retirement provisions within the service. However, the Police Act 2020 introduced a defining shift. Section 7 subsection 6 provides that the Inspector General of Police shall hold office for a term of four years, establishing a fixed tenure framework that differs from the traditional retirement structure.

In many ways, this reflects an attempt to balance institutional continuity with leadership stability. And while such interpretations may continue to generate debate, what often matters most is not just the legal framework itself, but how the time it creates is used. In this instance, the focus has remained less on tenure and more on direction, how leadership translates time in office into action, presence, and measurable signals of change.

Beyond these structural efforts, there has also been a pattern of presence. In moments of crisis, leadership has not remained distant. From visits to places like Jos and Kwara following incidents of violence, there has been a visible effort to show up, not just as a figurehead, but as a steadying presence in difficult times. In a country where communities often feel abandoned in the aftermath of tragedy, such gestures carry weight. They signal attention, urgency, and a willingness to engage realities on the ground rather than from afar. Sometimes, presence itself becomes a form of reassurance, both to officers on duty and to citizens watching closely.

Then came a moment that, for me, brought everything into perspective. I watched him oversee the disbursement of funds to families of fallen officers, and as I did, something unexpected happened: I found myself emotional. Yes, the funds were not his personally, but leadership is not just about ownership; it is about priority. He could have delayed it or treated it as routine, but he did not, and that mattered.

I watched widows and families step forward, each carrying a weight that words cannot fully capture. One woman, in particular, struggled to receive her cheque, not because it was heavy, but because she was overwhelmed with emotion. That moment said more than any speech ever could. It was a reminder that beyond the uniform, beyond the structure, beyond the system, there are people, and in that moment, they were seen.

Perhaps this is where the conversation about reform truly begins. This year’s National Police Day, held on April 7, 2026, at Eagle Square, Abuja, carried a theme that feels less like a slogan and more like a direction: “Community Partnership: Building Trust.” When placed alongside these actions, welfare, accountability, institutional respect, responsiveness, and presence, it begins to feel less like ambition and more like alignment.

Trust is not declared; it is built slowly and consistently. When an officer feels cared for, he carries himself differently. When he feels seen, he is more likely to see others. When accountability becomes real internally, credibility begins to form externally. What we may be witnessing is not just administrative change, but the early signs of a cultural shift, the kind that cannot be forced, only lived.

In the end, the relationship between the police and the people will not be repaired by announcements. It will be rebuilt through moments, moments like a roadside conversation, moments when residents feel safe in their communities, and moments when they spot police officers. Moments where leadership moves from position to presence. And perhaps that is where real reform begins, not when it is declared, but when it is felt.

Adeniran Bamisaye writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

Twitter and Instagram: @NiranBamisaye