John Okafor was a renowned Nigerian actor and comedian who featured in over 200 Nollywood movies, including entries from the popular Mr. Ibu series.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 62 years
Full name-John Ikechukwu Okafor
Nickname-Mr. Ibu
Height- 1.6m
Weight- 69Kg
Born- 17 October 1961
Birthplace- Nkanu West, Nigeria
Death date- 2 March 2024
Spouse-Stella Maris Okafor (m. 2015)
Children-Emmanuel Mandela Okafor, Chelsea Okafor, Jay Jay Okafor
Profession-Nigerian actor and comedian
Nationality- Nigerian
Cause of Death
The iconic actor, Mr. Ibu, passed away at Evercare Hospital in Lagos state on Saturday, March 2, following a prolonged battle with a blood clot in his leg. He had been on life support after undergoing a second surgery for his condition recently. Mr. Ibu had struggled with recurring blood clotting in his leg and other health issues for years.
In October 2023, Okafor disclosed that he was grappling with an ailment that posed a threat of amputation to one of his legs. He attributed the problem to an incident on a movie set with fellow Nollywood actors. He appealed to his fans and the public for prayers and financial assistance to cover his medical expenses, sharing a video from his hospital bed expressing his apprehension about losing his leg.
The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation, founded by the former Nigerian senate president, intervened and covered Okafor’s entire medical bills as of October 18, 2023. However, the foundation emphasized that Okafor still required significant financial support for ongoing hospital care and potential travel abroad for further treatment.
Family
Details about his parents are not known. John Okafor hailed from Umunekwu in Nigeria’s former Eastern Region. Following his father’s passing, he resided with his brother.
Wife
Mr. Ibu has been married twice in his lifetime. His second wife is Stella Maris Okafor, whom he married in 2015. He is the father of more than 10 children, one of whom is known to have passed away.
Career
John Ikechukwu Okafor undertook various menial jobs to support himself through school and assist his family. He worked as a hairstylist, delved into photography, and was employed by a company that manufactured crates. Despite facing financial hurdles, he managed to gain admission to the College of Education, Yola, but had to withdraw due to financial constraints. Subsequently, he enrolled in the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, as soon as he could afford to do so.
Okafor’s acting career spanned more than 200 Nollywood films, including notable titles like 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). He also briefly dabbled in music, releasing songs titled “This Girl” and “Do You Know” on October 15, 2020.
Renowned as “Nigeria’s Borat,” Okafor expressed strong views on homosexuality in Nollywood, likening it to a virus and advocating for its eradication.
Net Worth
At the time of Mr. Ibu’s passing, his net worth was estimated to be around 4 million.
