“He Made Us Laugh, Inspired A Whole Generation Of Movie Stars” — Nigerian Street Artist, Bamaiyi Danladi, Pays Tribute To Late Legendary Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr. Ibu With A Mural In Kaduna

“He Made Us Laugh, Inspired A Whole Generation Of Movie Stars” — Nigerian Street Artist, Bamaiyi Danladi, Pays Tribute To Late Legendary Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr. Ibu With A Mural In Kaduna

John Okafor, better known to generations of Nigerians as Mr Ibu, is dead. The news, confirmed on Saturday March 2, 2024, has sent a ripple of grief through the nation, a testament to the indelible mark the comic actor left on the country’s cinematic landscape.

Okafor was said to have died while receiving treatment at the Evercare Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.

In October 2023, the veteran actor was reported ill and appealed to his fans and the public for prayers and financial assistance to cover his medical bills. He also shared a video of himself lying in a hospital bed, expressing his fear of losing his leg.

The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation paid for Okafor’s entire medical expenses as of 18 October 2023. The foundation also stated that Okafor still required a lot of financial assistance to sustain him in the hospital and for his travel abroad for further treatment.

In November 2023, Okafor’s family confirmed that one of his legs had been surgically amputated to keep him alive.