Former Actors Guild of Nigeria president Emeka Rollas has urged friends, colleagues, fans, and members of the entertainment industry not to celebrate his birthday this year as he grieves the loss of actor Alex Ekubo.
Ekubo reportedly passed away on Monday, May 11, at the age of 40.
According to his family, the actor died at Evercare Hospital after a short battle with advanced metastatic kidney cancer.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Rollas said the loss of Ekubo remains deeply painful and called for sober reflection, prayer, and unity across the entertainment industry.
He asked friends, family, colleagues, and fans to cancel any planned birthday surprises or parties in his honor.
Rollas served as AGN president during Ekubo’s tenure as Special Assistant on Youth Development.
Instead of festivities, Rollas asked for a two-minute silence to be observed nationwide in Ekubo’s memory.
He urged members of the creative community to pause on film sets, in offices, studios, cinemas, and homes to remember the late actor.
Rollas said Ekubo’s talent, warmth, and presence impacted many lives.
He wrote: “Today would have been a day of celebration for me, but my heart is too heavy for festivities.
“In honour of our beloved brother, colleague, and former Special Assistant on Youth Development during my administration at the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Alex Ekubo, I humbly appeal to friends, family, colleagues, fans, and the entire entertainment industry not to organise any birthday surprises, celebrations, or parties for me at this moment.
“The pain of losing Alex is still deeply felt, and I believe this is a time for sober reflection, prayers, and unity within our industry.
“Instead of celebrations, I ask for just one birthday gift today, across Nigeria, on film locations, offices, studios, cinemas, homes, and wherever members of our creative family may be, we observe two minutes of silence in honour of Alex Ekubo.
“Let us pause together to remember a man whose talent, warmth, laughter, and presence touched so many lives.
“May God grant his soul eternal rest and give strength to everyone mourning this painful loss. Thank you all for your love, understanding, and prayers”.
