Nollywood veteran Diewait Ikpechukwu dies at 71 after long illness
- Diewait Ikpechukwu, wey pipo sabi for playing kings and elders for screen, die on Thursday at 71.
- Actors Guild of Nigeria announce im death for tribute on Friday.
- E act for over 25 years and na im be di guild first Enugu chapter chairman.
Veteran Nollywood actor Diewait Ikpechukwu don die at di age of 71, di Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) talk. E pass away on Thursday, November 5, 2026, after long illness. Di guild no talk wetin di illness be.
Di AGN national president, Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu, make di death public for tribute wey e post on Instagram on Friday, November 6. E call Ikpechukwu legend wey don bow out, and talk say those wey know am go keep im memory.
For Nigerian film fans, Ikpechukwu na familiar face for movies about tradition and power. E often play kings, traditional rulers and respected elders, and im strong presence on screen make am easy to recognise for films wey build around culture and custom.
From pitch to palace roles
Im path to acting no straight. Dem born am on August 23, 1955, for southeastern Nigeria, e first chase football career. E play as right winger for 1970s, turn out for Blue Diamonds of Nsukka and Kaduna Rocks, and captain di Kaduna Polytechnic team. Dem also invite am to camp of di Green Eagles, as dem call Super Eagles then.
While e dey Kaduna, e pick interest in broadcasting and dem talk say e do football commentary on radio. E study Marketing, earn Higher National Diploma from Kaduna State Polytechnic after e attend Comprehensive High School in Awo-Omamma, Imo State. E do im National Youth Service Corps year at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and later get postgraduate diploma in Marketing from Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Before Nollywood take am full time, e work at Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) as business office manager. Im move into entertainment follow television work at Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for Enugu.
Im first feature film na Evil Men in 1998, where e play traditional ruler alongside Pete Edochie, Alex Usifo and Liz Benson. Over career of more than 25 years, e appear for films including Royal Palace (2005), The Guilty (2006), Across the River (2006), Python King (2007), Oemera (2019), A Dance to Forget (2020), Emecheta (2021), Nwando (2021) and Ìjé Love (2022).
E also be di first chairman of di AGN's Enugu State chapter. Younger actors wey meet am recall im advice to take di craft serious and no chase fame in desperation.
E leave behind im wife, children and grandchildren. Di family dey expected to announce funeral arrangements later.
