Mr Ibu’s Family Receives ₦7.5 Million Donations After Public Appeal
The family of the late Nollywood comic actor John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, has received ₦7.5 million in donations from generous Nigerians following a public appeal that highlighted their severe financial struggles, including unpaid rent, school fees and deteriorating living conditions. The fundraising update was announced on Friday by content creator King Mitchy through her Instagram page, just two days after she shared an emotional video in which the actor’s widow, Stella Maris Okafor, and their children pleaded with Nigerians for assistance.
Expressing gratitude to everyone who contributed, King Mitchy revealed that the donations surpassed expectations and would be directed toward the family’s most pressing needs, writing, “First of all, I sincerely want to thank everyone who donated. Together, we were able to raise ₦7.5 million for the family. God bless every single one of you.” According to the content creator, the funds will primarily be used to pay the children’s outstanding school fees, including the eldest daughter’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees, which the family could not afford, while part of the money will also help settle the family’s rent and cover other urgent expenses. “This support will help pay the children’s school fees, including the eldest daughter’s WAEC fees, which they couldn’t afford. It will also help them with rent,” she added.
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King Mitchy also disclosed that after holding lengthy discussions with Stella Maris about the family’s financial situation, she advised the widow to relocate to a more affordable apartment to ease the burden of high rent, explaining that moving to a less expensive accommodation would allow the family to manage its resources more effectively while rebuilding its finances. She further clarified that she only became aware of the family’s condition after receiving a call from one of their neighbours, who appealed to her to intervene. “I only met her two days ago after a neighbour called me to help. I knew nothing about the family’s situation before then. My only focus from the beginning has been to make sure the children get the help they deserve,” she stated. King Mitchy further announced that she would release additional parts of her conversation with the widow to answer questions many Nigerians had raised about the family’s circumstances.
The donations followed widespread public sympathy after a viral video surfaced online showing the difficult conditions under which the late actor’s family had been living. In the emotional interview, Mr Ibu’s widow disclosed that the family had been living without electricity for about two months because they could not afford to pay their electricity bills, and also revealed that they depended on water fetched from a well while their children had stopped attending school because their school fees remained unpaid. “Right now, they can’t go to school again. I can even show you the message the school sent me today,” Stella said during the interview. The late actor’s eldest daughter also spoke during the interview, thanking her mother for remaining strong despite the difficulties confronting the family, saying, “I want to thank God for my mom. She tries everything she can to feed us, pay our school fees and make us happy.”
Mr Ibu, one of Nigeria’s most beloved comic actors, died on March 2, 2024, at the age of 62 after a prolonged illness, suffering cardiac arrest at Evercare Hospital in Lagos. Known for his unique style of comedy, expressive facial gestures and humorous performances, he appeared in over 200 Nollywood films over a career spanning more than two decades, and was buried in his hometown of Amuri in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State in June 2024. The donations have been welcomed by many Nigerians, who described them as timely support for the late actor’s family, while the situation has also renewed calls for better welfare systems for veteran entertainers, with many arguing that actors who contributed significantly to Nigeria’s film industry often face financial difficulties after retirement or during illness.