Nigerian media personality Toke Makinwa has explained her decision to stop paying monthly tithes to the church, revealing that she now redirects the money to hospitals, widows, and individuals in urgent need.

In a video posted on her YouTube channel on Saturday, Makinwa made the remarks during the podcast where she said she “kind of stopped paying tithe to the church” after concluding that many churches are already financially comfortable and she would rather channel the money to the needy.

“I kind of stopped paying tithe to the church because all the churches I know are rich. And I decided that no, no, no, no, I ain’t doing this anymore. I would rather go to hospitals, widows’ homes.”

She added that many of the churches are already financially well-established.

“All the churches I know are rich. Every Sunday, there’s a building fund envelope. You guys have so much money, and it’s not taxed. It’s a business, if I’m going to be real, because if that pastor dies today, either his wife or his child becomes the next pastor,” she said, adding that leadership succession in some churches often remains within families.

While clarifying that she still gives offerings and supports church programmes, Makinwa stressed that she no longer pays her regular tithe directly to religious institutions.

“I give an offering in church. And if the church needs anything, I would support the house of God for programmes, anything. But that monthly tithe.”

According to her, she now channels her tithe toward charitable causes, including paying hospital bills and assisting people with urgent financial needs.

“I would rather go to hospitals, take a maternity ward, and pay all the bills there. I would rather when strangers come to meet me, I would tithe my tithe to them because they are telling me their actual needs,” she said.

She questioned the rationale of giving money to churches while people struggle to survive.

“How can I say I love God? I have the money this person is looking for to pay rent, and I’m carrying it to a church?” she asked.

Makinwa also addressed possible criticism, urging people to act according to their convictions.

“Do whatever it is in your conviction to do,” she said, noting that interpretations of biblical teachings on tithing differ.

Reflecting on her past, she revealed that she once gave an entire brand endorsement fee to the church as a tithe.

“Ten years ago, I was the girl who got a brand endorsement deal, didn’t touch one naira double digits, and carried everything to church. I said I will tithe this to God so that my life will never be tight,” she recalled.

United States entertainment magazine, Billboard, has come under fire on social media for calling singer Rema
a “one-hit wonder”.

Recall that Billboard had on February 16, 2026, reshared an article from its June 2025 chart beat.

Billboard in the post on X, named Rema number six on the list of its “25 Biggest One Hit Wonders of the 21st Century” for his global smash ‘Calm Down’, which featured Selena Gomez, an American pop star.

The magazine which explained that Rema has not been able to make it to the Hot 100 again after featuring Selena Gomez “although he has landed six top 10s on U.S. Afrobeats Songs, through the June 7, 2025, chart”.

The resurfaced post sparked criticism from netizens with many tagging the publication disrespectful to Rema’s broader achievements.

@MikeAgrow wrote: “Rema has been dropping consistent bangers, selling out arenas, and putting Afrobeats on the map worldwide. One song on their chart doesn’t erase all that. Call it what it is.”

@flourish_empire said, “What kind of downplay is that? All Rema songs are hit back to back.”

@gtm_gtel added, “They try to kill his confidence but so bad. Billboard can’t tell Africans how to do their thing. Their rate is of no use.”

Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, has said she will work with any political party to build a better tomorrow for Nigeria.

She stated this following her controversial promotional clip for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.

Recall that a video recently shared by FAAN on X, captured Iyabo praising and promoting what she described as improvements at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.


Also posting the video, she wrote “FAAN is changing for the better in so many ways. I’m so proud of my country.”

The development sparked mixed reactions online due to her previously known political stance, with many reminding FAAN and the Federal government of how the actress previously criticised Tinubu administration, and also supported Peter Obi against him during the 2023 general election.

Reacting to the development, Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director of FAAN, debunked claims online that Ojo had been awarded any contract by the authorities, or appointed as its ambassador.

Speaking amid the backlash, Iyabo Ojo who stated that she’s unapologetic, clarified that she did the video out of her good will to promote her country.

While denying being paid for the video, Iyabo Ojo noted that she’s ready to work for any political party to build a better tomorrow.

Iyabo Ojo wrote on her Instagram page; “I’m Nigerian. And I’m a voice. When I see progress, airports upgraded, roads rebuilt, systems improved etc, I shout it from the rooftops if need be, not because I am being paid, not because I am political, but because I feel it and I want good for my country. I will continue to use my craft, my voice, to promote Nigeria, and I am unapologetic about it.

“FAAN approached me that you have seen the changes. Please help us spread the word. So I did it for free. No contract. Just love for Nigeria. If Nigeria must rise we ALL must build it. Silence helps no one. I will work with any political party as long as it is building a better tomorrow for our dear nation. No agenda. Just hands joined. Let’s stop dividing”, she said.

This came amid the ongoing appointment of many celebrities and influencers by president Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, to lead support groups for his father’s re-election.