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Tribute To Nigerian Celebrities Who Passed On In 2024

2024 brought profound losses to the Nigerian entertainment industry as it bid farewell to several iconic figures who left an indelible mark on us. From veteran actors whose artistry shaped the industry to beloved singers and stars who captured the hearts of audiences, these individuals are remembered for their talent, passion, and lasting legacies.

John Okafor (Mr. Ibu)

Beloved Nollywood comic actor, John Okafor, also known as Mr. Ibu, passed away at 62 on March 2, 2024. Known for his comedic brilliance, his death followed a series of health challenges, including hospitalization and the amputation of a leg​.

Junior Pope

One of the most shocking celebrity deaths this year was that of actor Junior Pope who sadly passed away after drowning in a boat accident in April. The accident happened mere hours after he posted the video of himself on a boat without a lifejacket in Asaba, on the way to a movie set. The news came as a huge shock to Nigerians and confusion followed until the news was sadly confirmed. His wife and three children survive him.

Onyeka Onwenu

Another celebrity who died in 2024 was veteran singer and actress Onyeka Onwenu. She reportedly slumped following a performance at Stella Okoli’s birthday party on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, and was then rushed to Reddington Hospital in Lagos, unfortunately, she didn’t make it. She was 72 years old.

Charles Olumo (Agbako)

Nollywood veteran Charles Olumo died at age 101 in October 2024 and the news was announced by the president of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Bolaji Amusan, via his Instagram account on October 31, 2024.

Deji Aderemi (Olofa Ina)

Veteran Yoruba actor, Deji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina, passed away on January 4, 2024, at the age of 73. He was a revered figure in the industry, known for his impactful roles in Yoruba films. Aderemi succumbed to cancer after battling the illness​Ethel EkpeThe veteran actress best known for her role in the classic NTA sitcom Basi and Company died on February 7, 2024, in Lagos. Ekpe had been battling cancer for a long time and was celebrated for her iconic performances​.

Sisi Quadri
Yoruba Nollywood actor Tolani Quadri Oyebamiji, famously called Sisi Quadri, passed away on March 1, 2024, at just 44 years old. Known for his comedic talent, his death came as a shock to fans and colleagues​

Amaechi Muonagor
A veteran known for his roles in films such as Aki and Paw Paw, Amaechi Muonagor passed away on March 24, 2024. He battled kidney disease for a long time and sought financial assistance shortly before his passing​.

Adejumoke Aderounmu
Popular for her role as Esther in Jenifa’s Diary, Adejumoke Oreoluwa Aderounmu died on March 7, 2024. Her passing shocked fans, as she was celebrated for her vibrant contributions to Nollywood​

Zulu Adigwu
Veteran actor Zulu Adigwu died on April 23, 2024. Known for his versatility and dedication to Nollywood, his death marked a significant loss to the film industry​

Dayo Adewunmi (Sule Suebebe)
Veteran actor and director Dayo Adewunmi, famously known as Sule Suebebe, passed away on June 12, 2024. A notable figure in the Yoruba film industry, his comedic talent and unique style made him beloved among fans​

Stella Ikwuegbu
Actress Stella Ikwuegbu died on June 16, 2024, after battling leg cancer. She was known for her impactful roles and her dedication to Nollywood​.

Ganiyu Oyeyemi (Ogunjimi)
Veteran Yoruba actor Ganiyu Oyeyemi, popularly called Ogunjimi, passed away on April 26, 2024. To this day, his contributions to Yoruba films and theater are celebrated by his peers and fans alike​

Jimi Solanke
Nollywood veteran Jimi Solanke also passed away this year at age 81 after a brief battle with an illness. He was said to have passed away on February 5, 2024, while being transported from his rural home in Ipara Remo, Remo North Local Government Area, Ogun State, to Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan. Reports also stated that Solanke had been in and out of the hospital between December 2023 to February 2024 before passing away.

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Celebs

Single mothers can’t raise boys properly – Jim Iyke

Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has stirred a bit of controversy after sharing his opinion about single mothers, stating that they cannot raise boys properly. He declared, “A woman can’t raise a man, they’re not built for it. A single mother cannot raise men properly.”

You need a man that you trust, and there has to be a male presence because women are naturally built to nurture, to love. If you’re going to raise a man, he’s going to be everything like that man who left you. You need someone who would discipline him and teach him how to grind.

Recalling an incident while on holiday in France with his son, the actor shared how he handled a situation where his son was bullied during a football game.

I was at a beach at the side of France once with my son. He was playing with a bunch of kids and I think he got tired. He’s a terrible football player so they dribbled the hell out of him and took his ball. When he came back to me crying, I didn’t even act like I knew him and I told him to be a man. One of the mothers of the sons stepped aside to watch how I handled him. This is why you need a man.

His comments have since sparked mixed reactions, with many arguing that single mothers are fully capable of raising well-rounded men.

See reactions below:

Women in general don suffer shaaaa. Every eke market day, women this, women that.

Lost my dad at Age 11- my mother raised my siblings and I! The farthest thing I’m from is a weak man, if I tell you what I have been through in this life and what I have achieved, someone who has their both parents fit craze if them go through half. Single mothers raise weak men! Mumu talk!

Don’t repeat that, my grandma raised five sons and they’re all handsome, successful, and lovely men – a true testament to her parenting!

It’s not that a mother can’t raise a boy; she absolutely can. But every boy still needs a man’s input at some point in his life. I was raised by my mum and I turned out strong, but I can also recognise there were certain touches and lessons I missed, the kind that usually come from a father. That balance matters.

Recall that Jim Iyke, in a recent interview, described modern feminism as a crime. The 48-year-old also addressed the “double standards” he believes is the bane of the movement, affirming his strong disapproval of what he thinks it is: a two-faced approach to gender dynamics.

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Celebs

Frank Edoho confirms end of second marriage

Nigerian media personality and television host Frank Edoho has announced that his second marriage has come to an end.

He disclosed this during an appearance on the latest episode of the Tea With Tay podcast.

Edoho, of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ fame, got into his second marriage when he married Sandra Onyenuchenuya in 2013 after the crash of his first marriage to Katherine Obiang in 2011.

Dropping the latest update on his marital situation during the interview, Frank admitted that he’s probably not good at marriage.

He noted, however, that he did all within his power and even stretched himself to ensure the success of both marriages, but they ultimately ended in ruin.

He said, “Maybe I’m not good at marriage, I must confess. The two women I had been married to are not my soul mates. Love of your life is different from your soul mate. The love of your life is the person who comes to your mind when you think of love. But your soul mate is someone who understands you even before you express yourself, and you naturally align with.

“I know that I went above and beyond for the two marriages. I carried my partner… I can abandon everything for her. But you don’t blame them for falling out of love with you. Take the footballer Kaka, for example, he’s a Brazilian and he looks as handsome as an Indian.

“Very handsome guy, even when he retired from football, he was still handsome. But his wife divorced him. Do you know what she said? ‘He is too good.’”

Edoho and Sandra, who was pregnant, had their traditional wedding in 2013, followed by their white wedding in 2017, a year after they welcomed their second child. Their first child was born in 2014.

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Celebs

Davido gifts personal assistant Lati Range Rover as birthday gift

Davido

Afrobeats superstar Davido has once again shown love to those in his inner circle by gifting his longtime personal assistant and close friend, Lati Biola, a brand-new Range Rover as a birthday present.

The heartwarming gesture comes as no surprise to fans familiar with the duo’s long-standing friendship, which dates back to Davido’s childhood. Lati, who served as Davido’s best man during the singer’s high-profile wedding to Chioma in June 2024, has remained a constant in the artist’s journey, both professionally and personally.

In the early hours of June 25, 2025, Davido took to Instagram to celebrate his best bud, tagging him as his ‘favourite person’ and posting pictures from the birthday dinner and clubbing. He also posted the keys to the luxury vehicle with the caption, “Love you my brother, enjoy new keys from your boy.”

It is worth noting that this is far from the first time Davido has gifted Lati a car. In 2019, Lati revealed that the singer was so generous that he gifted him a new red Benz worth ₦70 million.

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