Award-winning Nigerian actor Alexx Ekubo has died at the age of 40 following a reported battle with cancer.
According to local media in Nigeria, he passed away on Monday evening at a hospital in Lagos.
While his family and management have yet to release a formal statement, a representative from the Nigerian Guild of Editors confirmed that the news has left the industry in shock.
Ekubo first gained national prominence as the first runner-up in the 2010 Mr Nigeria contest.
A law graduate from the University of Calabar, he made his acting debut in the 2005 production ‘Sinners in the House’.
He later became a household name for his roles in the film ‘Weekend Getaway’ and his appearance in Yemi Alade’s 2013 music video for ‘Johnny.
Throughout his career, Ekubo received numerous accolades, including nine major awards.
He was named Best Supporting Actor in 2013 and Best Lead Actor in 2022 at the Best of Nollywood Awards.
His influence extended beyond cinema; in 2020, he was named one of the UN’s Most Influential People of African Descent, and in 2021, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in arts and culture from the Institut Supérieur de Communication et de Gestion in Benin.
Tributes have poured in from across the industry.
Colleague and producer Funke Akindele, who starred alongside him in the 2020 comedy ‘Omo Ghetto: The Saga’, expressed her grief on social media, revealing that she had recently reached out to him while he insisted he was recovering.
Filmmaker Lancelot Imasuen, who gave Ekubo his first professional role, described the passing as devastating and unbelievable.
Beyond his screen presence, Ekubo was recognised for his significant humanitarian efforts.
In 2021, he received the Nigerian National Award of Excellence as the Global Social Giving Actor of the Year.
He had also been honoured by Nigeria’s First Lady in 2018 for his contributions to the development of the country’s entertainment sector.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana