Let’s take a trip back to the days when families gathered to watch late-night TV shows after a long day. The television is on, tuned to the right station, and we hear the show’s theme song playing. The host seamlessly guides the stage, with the theme song playing in the background, sporting a sleek outfit for the night. He has a bright grin, and his show title is printed on the cup sitting elegantly on his desk. If you have no idea who I am talking about by now, you probably need more description with his face because he is none other than Teju Babyface, also known as the King of Talk, one of the most popular late-night show personalities in Nigeria. Alongside him, IK ran the late-night show titled “Highlites with IK,” which aired on Africa Magic Showcase and hosted the Big Brother Africa reality show by the side.
Just like many entertainment formulas adopted from the Western world, the idea of late-night shows was successful on Nigerian soil. With the mention of two successful popular shows above (Teju Babyface Show and Highlites With IK), it took the Nigerian TV experience to a whole different level. Since the demise of the Teju Babyface Show a decade ago and Highlites with IK, 2025 seems like a good time to revive late-night shows in Nigeria for so many reasons. Let’s dive into these reasons together.
One of the foremost reasons why the revival of late-night shows in Nigeria is important is because it would play a crucial role in supporting the creative entertainment industries in Nigeria, industries ranging from the music industry to the movie industry. The support from late-night shows in Nigeria to these creative entertainment industries could come through live discussions of their latest work, such as musical projects, new movies, etc. This would not only bring these discussions to a wider audience across the nation and beyond but also, especially with the rapid growth of Afrobeats, it would be a platform for listeners and viewers to see that it is not just about the music but also the artist’s story behind their music and body of work. Similarly, for Nollywood actors and actresses, whose industry is among the top 3 film industries in the world, this would be a great opportunity to discuss their latest movie performances.
This has been proven to be very successful overseas with the frequent visits of artists such as Bad Bunny and Travis Scott to American late-night shows during their album releases, where they discuss it and also perform some music off the project. It was also done here in Nigeria during the time Teju Baby Face Show was still live, with artists such as Dagrin, Yinka Ayefele, Asa, King Sunny Ade, Mayorkun, Korede Bello, Adekunle Gold and more.
Actors are not left out as they often appear on late-night shows like SNL (Saturday Night Live) around their movie releases, the most recent being Timothee Chalamet for his latest movie, “A Complete Unknown.” If this is adopted in Nigeria, it will not only serve as a support to the Nigerian creative entertainment industry but also as a means of promotion for Nigerian artists and actors and their work. It would help build momentum around their projects, contributing to their success.
In addition, the revival of late-night shows will become a significant avenue for broadcast revenue. While it is quite well-known that a lot of money and funding go into making a late-night show program possible and stable, it will also yield significant revenues when the show is made, mainly through advertising revenue, which in turn allows the late-night show platform to reach a wider audience too.
Overall, bringing back the late-night show will elevate the Nigerian TV experience to a whole new level and vibe. It would rekindle the excitement of watching TV like the old days, with a mix of fun and engaging conversations on social happenings, commentary, interviews, and discussions, all perfectly blended with comedy.
