Nollywood actress Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha loses father

Nollywood actress Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha has announced the death of her father, Leonard Ndukaife Chukwuka.

The actress disclosed this in an emotional Instagram post on Friday, saying her father had “gone to be with the Lord”.

Chukwuka, who lost her mother 13 years ago, described her father’s death as painful, noting that she was now without either parent.

“My beloved father, Leonard Ndukaife Chukwuka, has gone to be with the Lord. I lost my mother 13 years ago and now that my father is gone, the thought that I have neither parent here anymore breaks my heart in a way I cannot fully explain. So na only me bayi?” she wrote.

Describing her father as “my daddy, papa’m, obara’m, my comfort,” the actress expressed gratitude for his long life and for the opportunity to see his children and grandchildren, although she had hoped he would meet his great-grandchildren.

She reflected on the pain of losing a parent, regardless of age, saying: “No matter how many years we are given with a parent, we still want one more conversation, one more embrace, one more day.” She also expressed gratitude for the moments they shared, particularly towards the end of his life.

The actress said she had kept the news private while coming to terms with her grief. She asked the public to keep her, her siblings and the entire Chukwuka family in their prayers, adding that funeral arrangements would be announced when the family was ready.

“Rest well, Olowo of Ikate, my father. I will always love you,” she wrote, accompanying the announcement with biblical passages, including Proverbs 17:6 and Psalm 34:18, which speaks of the Lord being close to the brokenhearted.