Nigerian-born journalist Richard Edoki has been shortlisted for the Best Newcomer Category of the 2025 National Hospital Radio Awards in the United Kingdom.

Edoki, also known as Richybongo, made this known in a statement he issued on Saturday.

He said the awards were organised annually by the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA), a broadcast station based in the United Kingdom.

He said that the awards honoured exceptional contributions to hospital broadcasting across the United Kingdom.

According to him, he hosts “African Vibe with Richybongo” on the Community Hospital Broadcasting Network (CHBN) in Cornwall, England.

“The show, aired every Sunday evening, celebrates African people’s rich cultural and worldview diversity while fostering inclusivity with Cornish audiences.

“Through music, food, dress sense and language, Richybongo creates a platform that bridges cultures and builds a shared sense of community, “ he said.

He said that “African Vibe with Richybongo” on CHBN Radio had brought the vibrant cultures of Africa to Cornish airwaves, fostering shared learning and a sense of belonging for all listeners.

“By exploring African traditions, we have introduced the richness of our heritage to Cornish audiences, while creating a ‘home away from home’ for Africans in Cornwall.

“It is fulfilling to see how the show has become a bridge between cultures, helping everyone to appreciate the diversity that makes our world so special.

“The National Hospital Radio Awards ceremony will take place on April 5, 2025,” he added.

…Akwa-Ibom wins in States cultural participation, Osun and Delta emerge first and second runners up respectively 

The Calas Vegas carnival band has emerged winner of the 2024 Calabar Carnival.

The band, which also clinched first place during the 2023 Calabar Carnival, beat six other bands to emerge as overall winners again in 2024.

This was announced after the Carnival Street party as the bands were adjudged by teams of adjudicators at four different performance points.

The bands caught the attention of the revellers through their beautiful costumes and well-presented electrifying performances.

Seagull band clinched the second position, while the Bayside band secured the third position.

The seven competitive and seven non-competitive bands were made to cover a 12km carnival parade from Millennium Park through Mary Slessor Avenue to the UJ Esuene Stadium.

The competitive bands were: Passion 4, Freedom, Bayside, Calas Vegas, Masta Blasta, Seagull, and Diamond Bands.

Each band displayed performances following the theme of the carnival: “Our Shared Prosperity.”

Passion 4 Carnival Band, 11-time winner of the Calabar Carnival, which donned green and pink dominated attire, presented an electrifying performance, harping on the need for happiness in the land.

In dramatic and engaging displays, the Seagull Carnival Band harped on the need for peaceful coexistence to achieve prosperity and progress.

The two-time winner of Calabar Carnival competitive challenge harped on the essence of good legislation, food security, a seamless transport system, a welfare scheme, and education.

Diamond Carnival Band focused on the significance of peaceful coexistence, stressing that this would go a long way in attracting investors to the country and the state.

In melodramatic form, the team displayed the message of welcoming visitors and investors.

Freedom Carnival Band in satirical performance, advocated for economic diversification and equitable resource distribution.

Bayside Carnival Band on the other hand explored a sub-theme: “Our culture, our strength,” as they projected the rich culture of the Oyono community of Cross River.

For the cultural carnival among states, Akwa-Ibom state emerged as the winner, Osun became the first runner while Delta emerged as the second runner-up.

In the Local Government Areas category, Yakurr won, Calabar South bagged second position while Odukpani came third.

For the Junior Carnival, Calas Vegas band also emerged winner, while Seagull band clinched the second position, and Bayside secured the third position.

The carnival, which featured three dry runs in Oct. before the main carnival, attracted revellers from states across Nigeria and international tourists.

TikTok founder Zhang Yiming has topped China’s rich list for the first time, according to Shanghai-based Hurun magazine. The magazine put his fortune at 49.3 billion dollars.

Zhang, 41, belongs to the new generation of Chinese business people who are more internationally focused than their predecessors, according to Hurun.

TikTok owner ByteDance, also founded by Zhang, boosted its global turnover by 30 per cent last year.

TikTok is known as Douyin in China and has 200 million users in the United States alone.

Zhong Shanshan surrendered his top spot on the rich list for the first time in three years.

The 70-year-old’s fortune of 47.9 billion dollars, based in part on bottled water brand Nongfu Spring, put him in second place.

Tencent founder Ma Huateng was in third with his 44.4 billion dollars fortune.

According to Hurun, the number of Chinese dollar billionaires fell last year by 142 to 753.

The high point was reached in 2021 when there were 1,185.

The decline is attributed to China’s lagging economy and poor stock market performance. 

– dpa