Veteran Nollywood actor Diewait Ikpechukwu dies at 71

Veteran Nollywood actor Diewait Ikpechukwu died at age 71 after a prolonged illness.

The actor died on Thursday, according to family sources. His death was confirmed on Friday by the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abubakar Yakubu.

Mr Yakubu announced the development in an Instagram post, paying tribute to the deceased actor.

“Another legend bows out! RIP, Diewit Ikpechukwu,” he wrote, describing him as a legend whose memories would remain in the hearts of those who knew him.

Although the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, reports said he had been ill for some time. Further details about his illness and funeral arrangements had not been made public as of the time of filing this report.

Ikpechukwu’s death marks another loss for Nollywood, particularly among the generation of actors whose performances helped shape the Nigerian film industry.

Before becoming an actor, Ikpechukwu had a background in football and broadcasting.

He was reportedly one of the outstanding right-wingers in the 1970s and received an invitation to the Green Eagles, Nigeria’s former national football team.

In a 2021 interview with The Next Edition, the actor recalled playing for Blue Diamonds of Nsukka and Kaduna Rocks. He also captained the Kaduna State Polytechnic football team, leading it to victory at the 1976 Nigerian Polytechnics Games (NIPOGA).

He also worked as a team manager, including at Vasco da Gama in Enugu. He later became involved in radio broadcasting, working as a sports commentator while pursuing his other interests.

Ikpechukwu attended Comprehensive High School in Awo-Omamma, Imo State, before attending Kaduna State Polytechnic, where he earned a Higher National Diploma in Marketing.

He subsequently completed his National Youth Service Corps programme at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and earned a postgraduate diploma in Marketing from Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

He also worked with the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), where he served as a marketing manager before retiring as a senior manager.

Ikpechukwu’s transition into acting began through television, following an invitation to participate in the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) production of Second Chance, featuring veteran comedian Chief Zebrudaya.

However, his feature film debut came in 1998 when he played a traditional ruler in Evil Men, alongside established actors including Pete Edochie, Alex Usifo and Liz Benson.

Directed by the late Chico Ejiro, the production opened doors for him in the Nigerian film industry and helped establish his reputation as a character actor.

Over a career spanning more than 25 years, Ikpechukwu became particularly recognisable for portraying traditional rulers, elders and other authoritative characters in Nollywood productions.

His film credits include The August Meeting, The Guilty, The Guilty 2, Royal Palace, Across the River, Python King, Omera, A Dance to Forget, Emecheta, Nwando and Ìjé Love.

In Ìjé Love (2022), he portrayed King Obumneme, while his other performances included roles in The Living Deity, African Gods, Hunter’s Son and Ijeuwa.

Beyond acting, he also worked as an entertainer and master of ceremonies.

Ikpechukwu was actively involved in the Actors Guild of Nigeria, serving as the pioneer chairman of its Enugu State chapter.

During his tenure, he organised seminars and encouraged aspiring actors to understand the different professional opportunities available in filmmaking beyond appearing on screen.

In a July 2022 interview with The Punch, he spoke about his efforts to guide younger practitioners, stressing the importance of patience, dedication and professional development.

He encouraged aspiring actors to take their time in building their careers rather than rushing to achieve fame.

His contributions extended beyond the film industry to sports, where he maintained links with the football community in Enugu.

Ikpechukwu’s death comes weeks after the passing of another veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Duru.