Nollywood actor IK Ogbonna has said he is ready to return to acting, three months after the death of his close friend and colleague, Alex Ekubo.
Ekubo died on May 11, 2026, in Lagos, at the age of 40. His family said he had been battling cancer.
Ogbonna and Ekubo had been friends for years and had worked together on Nollywood film sets, including the 2020 film Soft Work. Ogbonna stayed silent through Ekubo’s burial rites and did not speak publicly about the loss until July 15, 2026, when he posted a tribute on Instagram.
On August 13, 2026, Ogbonna shared a video marking the three-month anniversary of Ekubo’s death. In the video, he said he had not been “fully present” since his friend’s passing and thanked those around him for their patience.
“Since Alex passed, life has felt different,” Ogbonna said. “Now it’s time to find our feet again, get focused, and get back to work. There’s a lot ahead of us, and I’m ready. Let’s go.”
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Ogbonna did not name a specific film or project in the video. It is not yet clear which production will mark his return to acting.
Ekubo and Ogbonna were both Nollywood actors and had been friends for years, appearing together in the 2020 film Soft Work and other productions. Alex Ekubo died on May 11, 2026, at Evercare Hospital in Lagos, following complications from advanced metastatic kidney cancer. His burial took place on June 18, 2026, in Arochukwu, Abia State, after a wake-keep on June 17 and a service of songs on June 10 in Lekki, Lagos.
