Nigerian film star Alex Ekubo dies aged 40

Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Alex Ekubo died at age 40 after a long battle with cancer in a Lagos hospital on Monday night.
- Alex Ekubo received a Special Recognition Award from Nigeria's First Lady in 2018 for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
- Alex Ekubo was inducted into the United Nations' Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) under‑40 list in 2020 for his work in entertainment and social development.
- Alex Ekubo earned an honorary doctorate in arts and culture from the Institut Supérieur de Communication et de Gestion in Benin in 2021.
- Alex Ekubo was honoured with the Nigerian National Award of Excellence as the Global Social Giving Actor of the Year in 2021 for his charitable activities.
Why it matters: Nollywood loses a leading actor and philanthropist, leaving film productions and social‑development projects without his influence, while fans mourn a cultural icon and charitable partners lose a powerful advocate.



