Nollywood actress Nkechi Nweje passes away

By Tosin Brown

The Nigerian film industry has been thrown into mourning once again following the death of veteran actress Nkechi Nweje.

Her passing comes barely a week after the demise of Ada Anachunam.

According to multiple reports, Nweje died on Friday, March 21, 2025, after a brief illness.

The news of her death was confirmed by Nollywood practitioner Stanley Ontop, who shared details about her passing on his social media account.

Before Ontop’s post, reports had already circulated online about the actress’s demise. He disclosed that he had been aware of her passing for hours but struggled to process the reality of it.

The movie producer, who described Nweje as his best friend, revealed that she died after battling a brief illness. He added that their last conversation was during his social media dispute with Queeneth Hilbert, when Nweje advised him to step back from the controversy involving actress Destiny Etiko.

Sharing pictures of the late actress on his page, Stanley Ontop wrote:
“Nollywood is in tears as we lost one of our vibrant actresses, @nkechi.nweje, after a brief illness. I couldn’t post since morning because it felt like a dream. Ezigbo Nwanyi Onitsha, rest in peace, ma’am. My best friend, she always called to advise me. The last time we spoke was during the Queeneth saga; she said, ‘Ontop, stop.’ I am still speechless.”

Nweje’s colleagues, including Destiny Etiko and Chizzy Alichi, have taken to social media to mourn her passing.