It is not news that Nigerian actors and actresses have been falling ill and dying in recent times.
Many Nollywood actors we see on screen may not be rich as we think. Because most of their role is a ‘Big man’ depict on screen does not implies that they are financially buoyant in the real life and that is why most of them seek for external help whenever they are plagued with illness that is bigger than their pocket.
Meanwhile some Nollywood actors lived a reckless life without thinking of saving for the ‘unexpected’. So this makes the actors in this category gets little or no pity whenever they need assistance from their colleagues and the public.
And also, some are too proud to let their situation known, so when their poor situation is finally revealed to the public atimes it becomes too late to save their lives.
Most Actors who have died of illness falls into one or more situations mentioned above. As much as we try to sympathize with them, we also believe a lot could have been done to avoid these illnesses as they are mostly linked to one bad habit or the other.
Below is the list of actors and actresses that have cried out for help in terms of funding but still went on to glory – may their gentle souls rest in perfect peace.
5. Prince James Uche
Prince James Uche was popular for lead roles in classic movies such as Igodo and Lost Kingdom was discharged abruptly from the hospital because he could not afford to pay his hospital bills in January 2017.
Actors like Desmond Eliot rose to his rescue along with his son and appealed to the public for funds to take care of the ailing actor as Prince James needed at least 15 million naira for his kidney transplant surgery in India.
Well meaning Nigerians came to his rescue and the funds were raised for his treatment but the ailing actor still passed on to Glory on the 8th of March, 2017.
4. Martins Njubuigbo
Popularly known as Elder Maya, Martins Njubuigbo died after battling with a liver disease for a long period of time. Before he kicked the bucket, he was in need of just 1 million naira for hospital treatment bills and he went ahead to solicit for pulic funds from Nigerians.
A popular cleric came to his rescue and helped him with 1 million naira in donation.
However, the actor still passed on in October, 2016.
3. Ashley Nwosu
Ashley Nwosu also passed on to glory in April, 2011 after battling with Liver complications at the age of 58.
It is reported that Nollywood deserted him during his ailment period wvwn when it was rumored that a lot of colleagues were indebted to him financially.
The family still went ahead to seek for help but their pleas fell on deaf ears and the actor died.
2. Enebeli Elebuwa
When Enebeli Elebuwa fell ill in 2011, Segun Arinze apealed to well meaning Nigerians to help raise funds to treat the ailing actor who was battling with stroke.
Delta state government came to his rescue and flew him to India for proper treatment but it was too late as the actor passed on still.
After he died, Stella Damasus expressed her disappointment at the way the matter was handled by his colleagues while accusing them of using social media as a tool to publicize their help.
1. Olumide Bakare
Ibadan based actor, Olumide Bakare was admitted into UCH in Ibadan after he suffered cardiac arrest. He cried out forhelp from his colleagues while begging them to assist him financially for his hospital bills and also send a word of prayer to his family.
He however passed away in April, 2017 after he had been ill for a long time.