The 17th annual Headies Awards ceremony became a moment of poignant remembrance when Omowunmi, widow of the late Nigerian singer Mohbad, took the stage with their young son Liam to accept two posthumous awards on his behalf.

The late artist was honored with the Best Street-Hop Artiste award for his hit "Ask About Me" and shared the Viewers' Choice Award with Chike for their collaboration "Egwu" during Sunday's ceremony in Lagos.

In an emotional moment that has since gone viral across social media platforms, Omowunmi dedicated the awards to their son while refusing to refer to Mohbad as her "late husband."

"Although Mohbad isn't here with us anymore, he lives on. And I don't like to address him as my late husband because he lives forever, especially through our son Liam," she said during her acceptance speech. "Liam may be too young to grasp the depth of his father's greatness now, but I believe that he will know one day."

She expressed gratitude to the Headies organizers "for shining a light on my husband, for honouring his memory and legacy. It means so much to me, his son and the entire Imonelization."

Accompanied by Mohbad's younger brother Adura, Omowunmi's appearance with Liam sparked widespread discussion online, with reactions revealing divided opinions about posthumous recognition.

Some social media users questioned the timing of the accolades, suggesting the recognition came too late. "When he was alive, them no recognize am. Rubbish headies," wrote one user, while another commented, "Why do you guys like celebrating the dead, if he was to be alive, would you guys give him the award?"

Others focused on the presence of the young child at the ceremony, with one user asking, "Why them carry Liam go stage?" and another questioning whether "the award [is] actually needed."

The emotional tribute highlighted the complex nature of posthumous recognition in the Nigerian music industry, where artists sometimes receive their greatest accolades after death. Despite the mixed reactions, the moment represented a significant acknowledgment of Mohbad's contribution to Nigerian street music and his lasting impact on the industry.