Nigerian film star Alexx Ekubo dies of cancer at the age of 40.
Hafsa KhalilAnd
Killer of Adebola,BBC Pidgin, Lagos
Alexx Ekubo via YouTube
Nigerian film star Alexx Ekubo has died of cancer, his family has announced.
He died on Monday at a private hospital in Lagos from “advanced metastatic kidney cancer”, said a family statement on the actor’s Instagram page. He was 40 years old.
Ekubo was best known for his roles in Weekend Getaway and the music video titled Johnny by Yemi Alade in 2013. He has won numerous awards and accolades for his work in the entertainment industry and his humanitarian efforts.
A member of the Nigerian Editors’ Guild told the BBC that his death had left the association in shock. Tributes are pouring in from fans and friends of the Nigerian film industry, popularly known as Nollywood.
Ekubo’s family said he died after “a brief but courageous battle” and called for privacy and prayers as they mourned his death.
“Throughout this difficult journey, he bore his pain with remarkable strength, unwavering faith and unwavering hope, believing that one day his testimony would be shared with the world,” the family added.
News of his death began to spread on Tuesday, with many fans and colleagues expressing shock.
“Rest in peace Alex,” fellow actor and producer Funke Akindele posted on social media.
The couple had starred together in the 2020 comedy Omo Ghetto – The Saga.
“I tried to contact you. To see you one more time, but I guess you knew the best,” she wrote, adding, “You kept telling me you’re okay.”
“May your kind soul rest in peace Alex. Ore mi, as you tenderly called me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together.”
The late actor’s colleague and friend, Godwin Nnadiekwe, has described the news of Ekubo’s death as heartbreaking.
“Nollywood has lost a rare soul and I am at a loss for words, because it was not expected,” he wrote on his Instagram.
Filmmaker Lancelot Imasuen – who gave Ekubo his first film role – described his death as “devastating and unbelievable”, reports Nigerian news site Vanguard.
Ekubo himself had moved away from social media, with his last post dating from December 2024, sparking concerns for his health.
Born on April 10, 1986 in Rivers State, Nigeria, the actor has received numerous accolades for his work.
The Nollywood star made his acting debut in the 2005 production, Sinners in the House.
He earned a law degree from the University of Calabar and rose to fame in 2010 after participating in the Mr Nigeria competition.
In 2013, he won Best Supporting Actor at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his role as Andre Dikeh in Weekend Getaway.
Ekubo has received nine awards during his career, including Best Nollywood Actor of the Year (2016) and Best Lead Actor (2022).
The First Lady of Nigeria presented him with a special recognition award in 2018 for his contribution and development of the country’s entertainment industry.
In 2020, he was inducted into the UN’s Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Under 40, for his efforts in entertainment and social development.
The following year, Ekubo received an honorary doctorate in arts and culture from the Higher Institute of Communication and Management of Benin.
“Tonight is very special and dear to my heart because it comes at quite a late time,” he said at the time.
His humanitarian work was also recognized.
In 2021, he received the Nigerian National Award for Excellence as Global Social Donor of the Year for his charitable work, according to his website.
Ekubo also received a certificate of excellence from the Sapio Club – a Nigeria-based community providing solutions to social and national problems – for his contributions, including humanitarian work.
He briefly caused controversy in 2021 when his fiancée, Nigerian-American actress and model Fancy Acholonu, ended their engagement approximately three months before their wedding.
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