Alexx Ekubo’s Family Announces June 18 Burial in Abia State

LAGOS — The family of late Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has announced his burial plans. Funeral rites will conclude on Wednesday, June 18, 2026, in his home state of Abia. The family released the announcement on Tuesday and confirmed that the final burial ceremony will take place in Arochukwu, Abia State, where Ekubo was born.

Ekubo died on May 11, 2026, at Evercare Hospital in Lekki, Lagos, after a private battle with advanced metastatic kidney cancer. He was 40 years old. His family confirmed that he had been receiving specialist treatment for several months before his passing. The Nigerian entertainment industry was deeply shocked by the news when it was announced on May 13.

The family said the burial programme will span several days and include events in Lagos before the final interment in Abia. Further details about the specific schedule of activities, including memorial services and public tribute events, will be released in the coming days.

“We thank Nigerians and the international community for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support since the passing of our beloved Alexx. We ask for continued prayers as we prepare to give him a befitting farewell,” the family statement read.

A Nation Still Mourning

The Nigerian entertainment industry has continued to mourn Ekubo’s death in the weeks since he passed. Colleagues including Funke Akindele, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Toyin Abraham, and many others have shared tributes and memories. His fans, who knew him for roles in The Bling Lagosians, Omo Ghetto, and A Sunday Affair, have kept his memory alive on social media.

Veteran filmmaker Lancelot Imasuen, who gave Ekubo his first movie role, said the announcement of the burial date brings a sense of finality to a loss that the industry is still processing. He said the June 18 date will give all who loved Ekubo a chance to gather and celebrate a life that meant so much to so many.

Furthermore, the Actors Guild of Nigeria said it will coordinate a formal industry tribute ahead of the burial. The guild said all its members across Nigeria are encouraged to participate in any tribute events organised before June 18. It described Ekubo as one of the most gifted and generous members of the Nollywood family.

His Legacy

Alexx Ekubo won Best Supporting Actor at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2012. He received the Most Influential People of African Descent Under 40 recognition in 2020 and the Global Social Giving Actor of the Year award in 2021. Beyond acting, he served as a Rotary Youth Ambassador.

His death at 40 has prompted renewed conversations in the Nigerian entertainment industry about health awareness, cancer screening, and the importance of regular medical check-ups. Several celebrity advocates have used the moment to call on Nigerians to seek medical attention at the first sign of health concerns rather than waiting until symptoms become severe.

Ekubo is survived by his wife and family. The family has asked members of the public and media to respect their privacy during the mourning period and to hold their personal interactions with the family until the formal burial activities begin in June.