- Popular content creator Iniobong Esther Louis, known as Sunshine, has passed away.
- Her funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, in Lagos.
- The announcement was made by her friend and fellow creator, Chidera Madu.
Popular content creator Iniobong Esther Louis, widely known as Sunshine, is set to be laid to rest on Wednesday, January 28, in Lagos, following her untimely death earlier this month.
A funeral notice shared on Tuesday by her friend and fellow creator, Chidera Madu, revealed that Sunshine’s remains will leave Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina, for burial at Atan Cemetery, Yaba.
Sunshine, 34, passed away on January 9, 2026, due to complications following fibroid surgery. She was originally from Nnung Udoe Itak in Ikono Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
Her family confirmed her passing in a statement, saying, “With heavy hearts, we announce the sudden death of our beloved sister and daughter, Esther Thomas (a.k.a. Sunshine), who passed away on January 9, 2026, after an unsuccessful surgical procedure.”
According to Madu, Sunshine began experiencing intense abdominal pain on December 28, 2025, which worsened by New Year’s Day. She initially sought treatment at Orchid General Hospital in Lagos, where she was given only pain relief due to a doctors’ strike.
She was subsequently moved to another hospital on January 2, where examinations revealed a large fibroid. Doctors recommended immediate surgery, which was performed and initially deemed successful.
Tragically, Sunshine later developed complications after the operation, which ultimately resulted in her death.
In other news….Twenty-two-year-old Kenyan environmental activist Truphena Muthoni has set a new Guinness World Record after completing the longest marathon hugging a tree, lasting an extraordinary 72 consecutive hours.
The record-breaking feat took place on December 11, 2025, outside the Nyeri County Governor’s office, where Muthoni embraced a royal palm tree continuously through harsh weather conditions. She surpassed the previous record of about 50 hours held by Ghana’s Frederick Boakye.
This achievement marked her second attempt at the record, following a 48-hour effort earlier in 2025. Explaining her motivation, Muthoni said, “Hugging a tree shows that nature is not separate from us, it is family.”
Her campaign focused on raising awareness about environmental conservation, particularly the protection of indigenous trees amid growing climate change concerns. The challenge tested her physical and mental endurance as she remained awake and in constant contact with the tree for three straight days.
Following the official ratification by Guinness World Records on January 26, 2026, Kenyan President William Ruto honored Muthoni with the Head of State Commendation (HSC) and appointed her an ambassador for Kenya’s 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign.
Her achievement has drawn widespread admiration, with local businesses and supporters offering rewards ranging from financial pledges to holiday packages. Muthoni hopes her action will inspire others to actively engage in tree planting and environmental protection.
