Autumn breathes October with various gatherings and events that leave nothing but a fun-filled month. Across the globe, there are significant events that occur annually at specific months of the traced history occurrence. This October month, like the autumn season, is rather garnished in the most informative way, with notable events recognized and observed.
There are a couple of lovely as well as drama-filled events in the month, but this write-up will let you explore the most significant events in October that made it to most media headlines here in Nigeria
1. Independence Day, Nigeria
Looking back at 1960, October 1st, when Nigeria got her independence from colonial rulers gave the country its 62nd year liberation day on the same date, 2022. And as always, a public holiday, military parade, and events that refer back to the historical date were visited. The beginning of October in Nigeria becomes a work-free day for Nigerian citizens. Though the country has yet to overcome the feasible challenges, there are words from the president and officials of a hopeful future.
2. Wizkid and Tems Bags Award at BMI
The Nigerian afrobeat singer Wizkid won the award for his international hit song “Essence” at the 2022 London BMI awards. The BMI Film & TV Awards are awarded annually by UK-based achievement rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc.(BMI), honoring songwriters, composers, and music publishers in various genres. The 2022 edition was held at Savoy Hotel in London on the 3rd of October, 2022. Wizkid and Tems’ work on Essence was recognized as the Most Performed Song Of The Year. Other artists such as Joeboy and Ckay won homely awards for their “Love Nwantiti”.
3. BET HIP-HOP Awards
The 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards is an American show founded in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate black entertainers and other factions in music, film, sports, and philanthropy. The awards, which are exhibited annually, are aired live on the BET network—held on October 4, 2022, as the 17th installment of the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta, Georgia. Kendrick Lamar won the most, and Tems of Nigeria won the international act for her collaboration with Drake on the work Future.
4. Eid-l-Maulud
To commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W), Muslims across the globe observed the day in equivalence to the Hijri calendar on October 8, 2022. Popularly known as Maulud Nabiyy or Eid-l-mawlid, it follows sermons from Islamic elites on the life teachings recorded(in Hadiths) of the Prophet. In grand, praises and poetry were recited to honor Prophet Muhammad(S.AW) with a festive gathering. Nigeria, like other places in the world observing the day, pronounced the day a public holiday to allow for the event in the country.
5. EdTech Summit and Awards
EdTech Summit marked its 4th edition this year. It was set to bring the top minds in the Education Technology industry to grasp the crucial challenges facing academic and non-academic processes. EdTech company in Nigeria, known to provide more accessible technology for educators and students alike in the management of learning systems, used the event that was slated from October 18-19, 2022, to discover more about existing and new EdTech products have a physical meeting with technology product and service providers making innovative technology evolutions, renovating the education sector and navigating the way expanding innovative and effective digital education in the country.
6. EndSARS Movement October 20, 2020
event remembrance (all that happened briefly it was reported on the night of October 20, 2020, that the Nigerian Army opened fire on revolutionary youths protesting to end police brutality in the country due to increased victimization, particularly from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS). In 2022, the exact date, the youth turned up at the Lekki toll gate for a memorial protest in honor of those that lost their lives two years ago. And yet again, the EndSARS movement resulted in transport hindrance and seeming throwback scenes played live as the massive youths clashed with the police. Following threats from police unleashing teargas and gunshots to disperse the gathering.
7. OONI Of Ife’s Wedding Series
Ooni of Ife’s serial marriage circulated in every media as the monarch of Ife wedded new brides six times in less than two months. After a failed marriage with Queen Naomi Silekunola, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi has made a wedding binge with five different women; the king married Mariam (September 6, 2022), Elizabeth& Tobi (October 9, 2022), Ashley(October 14, 2022) and Aderonke(October 20, 2022). Regardless of the tiny space between these five nuptials, the king was ready for another blissful wedding with Temitope, a princess from Ijebu, on October 24, 2022. This rapid event has stirred several reactions from Nigerians at large.
8. African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)
AMAA held its 18th edition on the 30th of October, 2022, with notable celebrities from across Africa. At the award, King Sunny Ade performed his usual bass juju music that got attendees flowing through. The 2022 edition of the film awards ceremony was held at the Jewel Aida Hall, Lekki, Lagos. The Nigerian films won eight awards; Bolanle Austen Peters’ “Man of God” with 2 awards, Kunle Afolayan’s “Swallow” with 2 awards, Tope Oshin’s “Here love lies” with 1 award, Tunde Aina’s “Underbelly” with 1 award, Ogo Okpue’s “A Song from the Dark” with 1 award and Walter Banger’s “Jolly Roger.” The diaspora event featured award representatives from Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, and Senegal for their works.
9. Lagos Fashion And Design Week(26th -30th)
Heineken Lagos Fashion Week returned for its runway this year in collaboration with Crossboundary, featuring various boards of experts who gathered for a classified discussion on funding the African fashion industry on the 27th of October. This year’s activity-filled agenda was the Press Cocktail, held at Art Hotel to mark the outset of a lineup of recreations. The whole runway show was covered from the 26th to the 30th of October 2022, with finalists for the fashion design taken to showcase their results after intensive workshop practices.
10. Burna Boy Beefs Wizkid
Wrapping the month of October off, Wizkid, who has been dormant from social media disputes, took to his Snapchat, bragging to his colleagues with words creating reactions within and outside his fan base. Burna Boy had made statements in response to Wizkid’s post, which had wizkid fans pouring in comments to make Wizkid the greatest he cited himself to be. The gbas gbos response between Burna and Wizkid fans only took a laughing emoji from WizKid’s Instagram story with the words ” small yansh dey shake oo.” This drama between the artists will be a memorable social media event in October.
11. Ifeanyi’s Death
Ifeanyi the son of Poplar music star, David Adeleke, or OBO or Davido, has been rumored to have died, the one with his Fiancee, Chioma. Nigerians took to social media to mourn Ifeanyi, who was said to have drowned in the pool. However, it’s still confirmed that he drowned, but Davido jas been quiet about it. We can’t be too sure.
October drew his curtain, and with the lots that happened, these events were significant and recognized. It has been a fun month with Wizkid and Burna Boy exchange, which has been an amusing way to end the month and a sad way as our music star allegedly lost his beautiful son. All in all, a happy new month to you all!