Mr. Ibu: Nollywood Mourns as Iconic Comic Actor Dies Aged 62 – Nollywood comic, John Okafor, better known as Mr. Ibu, has died. He died on March 2, 2024, at the age of 62 due to cardiac arrest after being rushed to the Intensive Care Unit at Evercare Hospital in Lagos.
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His death was confirmed by a close associate of the family and the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rolla.
Prior to his death, Mr. Ibu faced health challenges that led to the amputation of one of his legs in November 2023.
Following this, there were reports of financial mismanagement related to funds raised for his medical expenses, involving his son Daniel Okafor and adopted daughter Jasmine Chioma.
Born on October 17, 1961, John Ikechukwu Okafor, better known as Mr. Ibu, starred in more than 200 Nollywood productions, notably the Mr. Ibu series.
Image credit: Newspapers
His hometown was Umunekwu, which is now in Nkanu West L.G.A., Enugu State, in the erstwhile Eastern Region of Nigeria.
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Following the death of his father in 1974, he left primary school and went to live with his brother in Sapele.
He worked odd jobs in Sapele to pay for his family’s needs and his education.
After that, he pursued careers as a hairstylist, a photographer, and a crate manufacturer. He was accepted to the Yola College of Education after completing high school, but he withdrew owing to financial issues. Later, as soon as he could afford it, he enrolled in the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.
Okafor acted in more than 200 Nollywood films including Mr. Ibu (2004), Mr. Ibu 2 (2005), Mr. Ibu and His Son, Coffin Producers, Husband Suppliers, International Players, Mr. Ibu in London (2005), Police Recruit (2003), 9 Wives (2005), Ibu in Prison (2006) and Keziah (2007).
Okafor also ventured into music for a short period of time. On October 15, 2020, he released his songs titled “This girl” and “Do you know”.
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