Organisers of the award on Wednesday announced Ogulu’s alongside other contenders for the highly coveted trophy.

This year’s Music Week Awards is scheduled to hold on May 8 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London, United Kingdom.

Other nominees for the Manager of the Year, a category that highlights the best management talents in global music industry, include Alistair Goldsmith, Neil Hughes, and Wes Banton.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Music Week Awards celebrates excellence in the music industry, including labels, A&R, live events, and management.

Winners for the annual award are selected through peer voting and an independent panel of judges.

NAN also reports that this is not the first time, Burna Boy’s mum is clinching international award, as she won the Manager Of The Year at the 2022 Artist & Manager Awards in London.

Ogulu, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign languages and a Masters of Arts in Translation from the University of Port Harcourt, is from a family deeply rooted in arts and culture.

She is the daughter of Nigerian music critic, Benson Idonije, who managed Fela Kuti, and she was also one of Fela’s background dancers.

She built a successful career as a translator for the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and is proficient in English, French, German, Italian, and Yoruba.

Her role as manager is acclaimed to have played pivotal role in her son’s rise stardom on the global music stage, securing major deals and international recognition.

Among other initiatives, she co-founded Spaceship Collective, supporting African artists and expanding the reach of Afrobeats worldwide.(NAN)

Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, shared the news in a statement on Tuesday.

Okumu revealed Ayra Starr’s dominance on Spotify’s Global Impact List, leading 30 Nigerian songs and connecting with audiences worldwide.

The top 10 list includes Ayra Starr, Rauw Alejandro, and Rvssian’s “Santa”; Tems’s “Love MeJeJe”; Burna Boy, Coldplay, Elyanna, Little Simz, and TINI’s “WE PRAY”; and more.

Other songs featured are Ayra Starr and Giveon’s “Last Heartbreak Song”; 21Savage, Burna Boy, and Metro Boomin’s “Justlike Me”; Tems and Tyla’s “No.1”; and others.

Okumu highlighted Nigerian artistes breaking boundaries, saying Spotify is proud to amplify their global reach.

She explained that Nigerian music’s influence has gone global, with Ayra Starr leading the charge in Spotify’s 2025 Global Impact List.

The list showcases 30 Nigerian songs with the strongest international connections this year, reflecting Nigeria’s growing global influence.

Okumu called Ayra Starr a chart-topping force, reshaping the global music scene with her international success.

Ayra’s hits top Nigerian charts, with her music becoming global anthems that resonate worldwide.

“As a Spotify RADAR and EQUAL alumna, Ayra Starr was Nigeria’s most-streamed female artiste in 2024,” Okumu said.

While only two of her tracks, “Last Heartbreak Song” and “Bad Vibes”, are on the Global Impact List, Ayra’s collaborations like “Santa” highlight her wide-reaching influence.

The success of “Santa”, featuring Rvssian and Rauw Alejandro, showcases Ayra’s ability to connect across diverse markets.

Ayra Starr’s six entries on the list, including “Commas”, “GOOD FEELiNGS”, and “Hypé”, show her versatility and global appeal.

Her album The Year I Turned 21 was one of the top 10 most-streamed albums of the year, cementing her global presence.

Okumu emphasised the power of collaboration in amplifying Nigerian music’s global impact, noting 22 of the 30 songs are collaborations.

She explained that collaborations are essential for Nigerian artistes aiming for international success, with 19 involving artistes from other countries.

Songs like “Santa”, “WE PRAY (TINI Version)”, and “Another Vibe” demonstrate the power of such cross-continental partnerships. (NAN)