Nollywood Mourns Veteran Actor Diewait Ikpechukwu at 71

Veteran Nollywood actor Diewait Ikpechukwu dies at 71 after a prolonged illness, marking another loss for Nigeria’s film industry

Veteran Nollywood actor Diewait Ikpechukwu, who transitioned from professional football into acting and became a familiar face in Nigerian films, has died at the age of 71.

Ikpechukwu reportedly passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2026, after battling a prolonged illness, according to reports citing a family source. The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) also announced his death on Friday through its national president, Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu.

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Yakubu paid tribute to the late actor in an Instagram post, writing: “Another Legend bows out!! RIP Diewit Ikpechukwu.”

The actor’s death has prompted renewed attention to a career that spanned more than two decades in the Nigerian film industry. He featured in several productions, including Royal Palace (2005), The Guilty (2006), Across the River (2006), Python King (2007) and Ìjé Love (2022).

Before finding fame in Nollywood, Ikpechukwu played football as a right winger and reportedly received an invitation to the Green Eagles, Nigeria’s national team at the time. He also played for clubs including Blue Diamonds of Nsukka and Kaduna Rocks.

His journey into entertainment later included television and radio, where he worked as a sports commentator before establishing himself as a film actor. He became particularly recognisable for portraying traditional rulers and other authoritative characters in Nigerian movies.

Beyond acting, Ikpechukwu served as chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria’s Enugu State chapter, where he supported and mentored younger performers.

Details surrounding the circumstances of his death, including the specific nature of his illness, had not been publicly disclosed in the reports available. Funeral arrangements were also yet to be announced.

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His passing represents another loss for Nollywood, particularly among the generation of performers whose work helped shape the Nigerian home-video era and the industry’s growth.