The widow of late Nollywood actor John Okafor, widely known as Mr Ibu, has appealed to Nigerians for help, saying she and her children are struggling to pay rent, school fees and meet basic needs.
She made the appeal in a video interview with content creator King Mitchy, where she and her children spoke about life after the actor’s death.
Fighting back emotion, the widow said the family had been without electricity for about two months after their power was disconnected over unpaid bills. She added that they now depend on water from a well because of their financial difficulties.
“We fetch water from the well. Because I have not paid the house rent. And they have even cut my lights for two months now. No lights since. We have been like that. Every night we go to look for a place to charge our phones. And… It’s not easy,” she said.
One of the actor’s daughters praised her mother for holding the family together despite the hardship.
“I want to thank God for my mom. She tries everything she can to feed us, to pay our school fees, to make us happy,” she said.
The widow also revealed that her children could be forced out of school because their fees remain unpaid.
“Right now, they can’t go to school again. I can even show you the message the school sent me today,” she said.
King Mitchy, who conducted the interview, said support was being sought to help the family pay school fees, settle rent and reconnect electricity.
Mr Ibu, one of Nigeria’s most beloved comic actors, died on March 2, 2024, at the age of 62.
See video here.
