Nigerian Afro-house singer Niniola Apata has paid an emotional tribute to her late husband, Michael Ndika, revealing that he played a major role in her music career and stopped her from quitting the industry.

Speaking during a memorial event captured in a viral video shared online on Friday, the Grammy-nominated singer described their relationship as a deep love story and credited her husband for her success in music.

According to Niniola, Ndika, the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, transformed her life after they met and constantly encouraged her career.

“My story with Michael is a love story. Michael did everything for me. Everything was for me, he was breathing for me,” she said emotionally.

The singer disclosed that she once considered taking a break from music, but her husband refused to let her quit.

“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,” she added.

Niniola also spoke about the emptiness his death has left behind, saying he was the first person she saw every morning and the last person she spoke to every night.

“So now what do I do? Michael was the best thing, the best person that ever happened to me,” she said.

Michael Ndika reportedly died on May 19, 2026, at the age of 44.

His death shocked many fans after Niniola publicly revealed that they had been married for 13 years, as many people were unaware of their relationship.