It was an evening of bold truths and cultural pride when Munirat Antoinette Lecky, popularly known as Anto Lecky, appeared on EBS Tonight Show to share her vision for Edo State’s creative future.
When asked how the entertainment sector could create more jobs and wealth, Lecky was emphatic: “In Nigeria, there’s no entertainment or creative industry without Edo State. I think, first, we need to own that.”
She rolled out a star-studded list of Edo-linked talents: “We have Rema and Shallipopi. We can’t forget Davido’s mom is from Edo State. Burna Boy’s mom is also from Edo State. If we look deeper, Wizkid might be from Edo too,” she teased, drawing laughter. Turning to Nollywood, she named Mercy Aigbe, Toyin Abraham, Yvonne Jegede, Nancy Isime, and Jemima Osunde as examples of Edo’s dominance.
Her message was clear: “When it comes to entertainment in Nigeria, without Edo State, we don’t have it. We just need to encourage Edo-based creatives to know we own this sector.”
Lecky’s remarks carry new weight. In June 2025, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo appointed her Senior Special Assistant on Tourism and Creative Economy, tasking her with repositioning Edo’s creative and tourism sectors amid efforts to showcase the state’s cultural assets, from the anticipated return of stolen Benin bronzes to upcoming museum projects.
Her appearance on EBS has since sparked conversations online, with many praising her for championing Edo’s rightful place as the bedrock of Nigerian entertainment and culture.
