The entertainment industry, family, and faith leaders gathered in Lagos for the service of songs of 40-year-old actor Alexx Ekubo. It was a heavy evening, serving as a stark reminder of life’s fragility for his colleagues and fans.
The atmosphere was deeply reflective; prominent figures like Funke Akindele were seen quietly viewing photographs of the late actor, shaking her head as she made her way to the venue.
Anchoring the evening, pastors Ituah Ighodalo and Jerry Eze ministered to the congregants, alongside powerful gospel musical presentations designed to comfort the grieving audience.
Gospel heavyweights led intense moments of worship, providing a sanctuary for the mourning audience. Nathaniel Bassey and Mercy Chinwo led praise and worship sets, while Peterson Okopi, Ebuka Songs, and Moses Bliss delivered deeply moving melodies, alongside the harmonious voices of the Loud Urban Choir.
The emotional peak came alive on social media; in several videos making the rounds, the late Alexx Ekubo’s widow, Anwuli, appeared utterly inconsolable as gospel singer Kingsley Owoicho-Oche, popularly known as Kaestrings, performed a soulful rendition of his hit song, Rahama. Together, these ministers offered essential songs of solace as family and fans bid a final farewell to a screen icon.
“Alex always looked out for those he loved”
The emotional weight of the night peaked when one of Ekubo’s closest friends, actor IK Ogbonna, stepped forward to deliver a devastatingly heartfelt tribute. Visibly shaken, Ogbonna put into words the painful reality confronting the grieving gathering, noting that “either our loved ones bury us or we bury them”.
Reflecting on their deep bond, Ogbonna shared that he never imagined a day would come when he wouldn’t see his friend again, revealing that Ekubo had taught him everything, including how to draw closer to God and do things at the right time.
“He would call me and advise me like I was his child, and I’d fight him for always talking to me like I was a child,” Ogbonna recalled. “I’d tell him we’re adults and that I’m not him, and that he should let me make my mistakes, but he never agreed. The next call would come with the same advice. That’s why we fought a lot. You always tell me ‘Ogbo, get closer to God’ … Alex always looked out for those he loved.”
The actor confessed that he still catches himself reaching for his phone to call Ekubo, hoping against hope that the call would somehow go through for just one more conversation. Questioning whether he would ever truly get over the loss, Ogbonna noted that the pain stands as a constant reminder of life’s harsh realities.
The devastating reality of the loss hung heavily over Ekubo’s immediate family, including his mother, brother, sisters, and his wife. Former Minister of Education, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, who served as a song leader, spoke directly to the agonizing nature of the tragedy, stating that nothing anyone says could comfort the late actor’s mother, wife, or siblings, and that only God can offer true comfort.
“It is very difficult to serve as a song leader for someone younger than her generation,” the 63-year-old Ezekwesili expressed. “Look at the wife, look at the sisters, the brother, the mom, especially with whom I spoke, and have anything meaningful to say. When deaths like this happen, the only thing that a child of God would be able to do is to remember the sovereignty of God.”
She further offered spiritual solace to the family by referencing holy scripture:
“The one that I want to tell you is that in Psalm 116, I think verse 15, He says, ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the saints.’ When we think of all that has been spoken of your son today, of your husband, of your daughter, we call them saints… So precious in God’s sight is Alex. I think Isaiah 57:1 says ‘the righteous perish and no one knows.’ No one considers that God has taken them away from the evil that is to come.”
