Notable Nigerians Who Died In 2019

The outgoing year is remarkable for the high profile deaths that occurred from January to December. All sectors from politics to media, academics, showbiz, and sports recorded deaths of famous people. Below are some of the eminent personalities that bade the world goodbye in 2019.

Tam David-West

Ex-minister and professor of Virology, Tamunoemi Sokari David-West, popularly known as Prof. Tam David-West, was a Nigerian academic, social critic and minister who died on Monday, Nov 11 after spending 11 days at the private suite of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. He was aged 83.

David-West served in Rivers State as commissioner for education and a member of the Executive Council of Rivers State between 1975 and 1979. He was a member of the fifty-person Constitution Drafting Committee for the Federal Military Government of General Murtala Muhammed (1979) and federal minister of petroleum and energy under the General Muhammadu Buhari regime between 1984 and 1985. He was also at a point the minister of Mines, Power and Steel under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s regime (1986).

The former professor of virologist at the University of Ibadan will be widely remembered for the controversial way he was removed as Minister of Petroleum by the Babangida regime, accused of accepting an offer of wristwatch and tea.

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Chief Alex Akinyele

Ondo born former PR expert and former Information Minister, Alexander Opeyemi Akinyele, popularly known as Sir Alex Akinyele, died on November 14. He was aged 81.

Sir Akinyele served as a Minister of Information under the Babangida military regime between 1985 and 1993.

Akinyele later became the Chairman of the Nigerian Sports Commissions (NSC)

His death was announced by one of his sons, Constantine Kayode Akinfolarin Akinyele. According to him, his father died after a brief illness. In the post on his Facebook wall, however, Constantine did not state where his father died.

Akinyele was a public relations expert and a pioneer spokesperson of the Nigerian Customs Service. He was also the Secretary-General and later President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations.

He was born in Ondo State on April 24, 1938, and attended primary and secondary schools in Ondo.

Umar Sa’id Tudunwada,

Umar Said Tudunwada, the Kano born media professional died on Sunday 30th June in a road accident in Kura town, along Zaria to Kano road on his way back from Abuja.

Until his death, he was the Managing Director of Radio Kano.

He was a professional broadcaster, media manager and consultant who served in various capacities in media organizations in the country and abroad.

He was the General Manager Operations and Deputy Managing Director at Freedom Radio, Kano, Executive Director at Dandal Kura Radio, Maiduguri in Borno.

He was also a Principal Editor at the then CTV now Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV) , International Broadcaster with Voice of America, freelance correspondent with Hausa and English services of Deutsche-Welle and Editor, Concern Magazine.

He also served twice as Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to former Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso as well is Ibrahim Shekarau and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje

He was Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kano State Council and the deputy president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. He died at the age of 59.

  Ben Uwajumogu

Senator Ben Uwajumogu, representing Imo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, died in the early hours of Wednesday, December 18.

He was aged 51.

Until his death, he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour and Employment. Senator Uwajumogu was first elected into the senate in 2017 and was reelected in 2019.

He was the speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly between 2011 and 2015.

He was initially treated in the United Arab Emirates for his protracted illness but recently returned to Abuja after showing signs of recovery, according to a source familiar with his situation.

He was one of the few APC senators from the South-East geopolitical zone.

Uwajumogu was born in Okigwe, Imo State.

Yemi Fawaz

Yemi Fawaz was the first professional and international supermodel to come out of the country. Her modeling career spanned the late 70’s up till the late ’90s, during which she established a modeling school in Lagos.

She made tremendous strides in Nigeria’s fashion and beauty industry before she relocated to the USA in 1997 and did not return until 2016. Her modeling career suffered a bit when she became born again in 1991.

In 2016, the mother of one, who is now a deaconess, came back to Nigeria to initiate Banner of Love, a non-governmental organization set to provide Medicare and eradicate poverty among the underprivileged.

She died of colon cancer on February 20, 2019, at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital. She was 64 years old.

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Fawaz was born in Nigeria to a Lebanese father and a Nigerian mother. For over 30 years, she had a successful career as a fashion and photographic model, beauty promoter/consultant, fashion designer, trade show organizer, chef, and restaurateur.

She opened the first modeling school and professional modeling agency in Nigeria and in West Africa.

She’s survived by her 33-year-old daughter, Magdalene Oluwatosin

Titi Ajanaku

Chief (Mrs) Titi Ajanaku was one of the first set of women to excel in politics. She was a foundation member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Special Adviser on Women Affairs.

She died in the early hours of Thursday, December 5, 2019, after a long battle with a terminal illness. She was 73 years old.

She was the chairman of old Abeokuta Local Government in Ogun State, and the first woman to be elected as a local government chairperson in Nigeria. Until her death, the late Ajanaku was the Otun Iyalode of Egbaland.

A trained nurse, administrator, and women leader, Ajanaku was born on January 25, 1946 at Ago-Odo Quarters in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

She came into prominence when she became the first woman to be elected as the chairman of old Abeokuta Local Government and the first woman to be a local government chairperson in Nigeria under the zero-party arrangement.

She trounced about 10 men who contested the position with her.

Jafaru Iliyasu Auna

Hon. Jafaru Iliyasu Auna, who represented Rijau/Magama Federal Constituency of Niger State in the 9th National Assembly, died on Monday, December 2, 2019 at Maitama General Hospital in Abuja after a brief illness.

Confirming the death of the lawmaker, another lawmaker from Niger State, Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi, said that” the deceased came back from a trip to Lagos on Sunday night and died early morning today.”

Salome Abuh

The late Women Leader of Wada/Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward, Kogi State, Mrs. Salome Abuh, was burnt alive in her home by suspected thugs during the just concluded Kogi State governorship election, shortly after the announcement of the results of the governorship election held in the state on November 16.

Six suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

Her husband, Elder Simeon Abuh, in a tribute described her late wife as a “Martyr, whose political sagacity will remain fresh in the mind of her associates. She paid the price for the unity of Igalaland.”

 Paul Emema

Foremost screenwriter, movie producer, and director, Paul Okeoghene Emema, popularly known as Paul Emema, is credited with producing the hit soap operas Behind the Clouds and Supples Blues on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). She died at the age of 52 on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, after a brief illness.

Emema became a point of reference in filmmaking he produced Behind the Clouds for the NTA.

He also produced Supple Blues, another soap opera that was well received by the television audience.

His biggest movie production was the documentary on Reverend Father Tansi.

Eddie Ugbomah

Veteran Nigerian filmmaker, Chief Eddie Ugbomah, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at a private hospital in Lagos days away from undergoing a major surgery.

Eddie was a Nigerian film director and producer. He directed and produced films like The Rise and Fall of Oyenusi in 1979, based on the antics of a notorious robber, Ishola Oyenusi; The Boy is Good and Apalara, a film about the life and murder of Alfa Apalara in Oko Awo, to mention a few. He was 78 years old.

Ugbomah was a native of Aboh in East Ndokwa, Delta State, but he grew up in the Obalende and Lafiaji areas of Lagos. He was educated at St Matthias, Lafiaji, Lagos and City College school. He traveled to London for his college education and attended various colleges studying journalism, drama and later film.

After studies, he worked with BBC and also played minor roles in Dr.No, Guns at Batasi and Sharpeville Massacre. He was a member of an Afro-Caribbean drama group and directed some of the group’s plays such as This is Our Chance; a play staged at the Stoke Newington Theatre Hall.

He returned to Nigeria in 1975 and was involved in concert promotion before starting Edifosa, a film production company.

In 1988, Ugbomah was appointed chairman of the Nigerian Film Corporation.

Samuel Alabi Akinpelu a.k.a. Alabi Yellow

Veteran actor and author, Samuel Akinpelu, popularly known as Alabi Yellow, died in the early hours of Sunday, December 22, 2019, in his home in Ikorodu, Lagos State. He was 62.

Alabi Yellow was hit by a stroke in March shortly after the death of his wife.

In April, the actor got a lifeline of N10 million from a popular philanthropist, Rev. Esther Ajayi, popularly known as Iya Adura.

The donation came two weeks after the news of his ill health gained public attention through a video that was made by the Chief Executive Officer of Best of Nollywood, Seun Oloketuyi, which went viral.

Alabi Yellow was reported to have been moved to a hospital to continue his treatment after the donation. He appeared in several Yoruba movies and also wrote a book titled ‘A ba Oko Ku’.

The news of the actor’s ill health came as a surprise because shortly before then, he featured in Kunle Afolayan’s latest movie, ‘Mokalik’, where he played the role of a mechanic and did not show any sign of illness. The film was released in May 2019.

He was one of the most recognizable faces in the Yoruba movie industry.

Gbolahan Adio

Popular Yoruba Nollywood actor, Gbolahan Adio Majester, passed on after a long battle with diabetes. The actor died on May 7, 2019.

The once chubby and energetic Majester became the shadow of himself before his death. He was reported to have been on intensive treatment for years.

Dammy Eke

Nigerian actor Prince Eke was allegedly sharing drinks with friends at a bar in Port Harcourt when he reportedly slumped and was rushed to the hospital where he died.

He will be remembered for playing prominent roles in movies that promote cultural values from the eastern part of the country.

The cause of his death had yet to be confirmed.

Alfred Rotimi Popoola

Veteran Yoruba actor, Hon. Alfred Rotimi Popoola, also known as Ilu Venture, reportedly died on the night of Wednesday, February 27.

Popoola, who resided in Abeokuta, Ogun State died after a brief illness. He was a member of TAMPAN, Abeokuta chapter.

Benson Akindeju

Veteran Nollywood producer and CEO of AK  Media Concepts, producers of award-winning programs like Face2Face, Family Ties, Nowhere to be Found and Oyin Momo died of cancer-related ailment on Monday, March 4, 2019 at a London Hospital. He was 58.

He was born at Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo State.

He was a graduate of Marketing with over 30 years of experience in media marketing, and an alumnus of the University of Manchester Business School, UK.

Funmilayo Ogunsola

Veteran Nigerian actress Funmilayo Ogunsola a.k.a. Ijewuru, one of the wives of the late Ishola Ogunsola, died of a heart attack on Monday, February 4 at her residence in Ibadan.

Her death came 27 years after the death of her husband and colleague, Ishola Ogunsola a.k.a. I Show Pepper.

The deceased was the fourth wife of the late Yoruba actor and a founding member of the Association of National Theatre Arts Practitioners.

Gbenga Akintunde

Nollywood actor, Gbenga Akintunde, popularly known as Burger, died after a brief illness. He was 47 years old.

According to Kunle Afod, an actor and producer who announced his death via Instagram, Akintunde died on Thursday, January 3, 2019, after visiting the hospital to complain of malaria.

Afod wrote: “You called yesterday to confirm if I would still be holding my new year party today, and I was called this afternoon that you are no more …BURGER…Heard u went to the hospital to complain about malaria this afternoon and in few hours u are in the mortuary… this is so sad ……Planning to celebrate you in a few days’ time …imagine the shock and tears. O ye Olorun (God knows best).”

Phillip Osondu

Former Golden Eaglets star, Philip Osondu, who also played in Belgium for teams including RSC Anderlecht and RWDM, died in Belgium after a brief illness on December 13. He was 46 years old.

Philip Osondu played regularly for the youth teams of Nigeria, but he never played for the senior team.

In 1987, he participated in the World U-16 tournament in Canada. Nigeria reached the final of the tournament but lost on penalties to the Soviet Union.

Osondu got the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.

Isaac Promise

Former Nigeria international and Genclerbirligi and Trabzonspor striker, Isaac Promise, passed on at the age of 31 on October 2, 2019, in Austin, Texas, United States. Isaac was the captain of the football team representing Nigeria which won the silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

He captained Nigeria to the 2003 FIFA U17 World Cup held in Finland, as well as the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup in the Netherlands where the Flying Eagles were runners-up to Argentina.

At the 2008 Olympics, he played a key role in Nigeria’s silver medal finish in Beijing, scoring in the 2-1 triumph over the United States in the group stage.

Promise made his senior national team debut in 2009.

Before his demise, he had several stints in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Ifeanyichukwu Stephanie Chiejine

Former Super Falcons captain Ifeanyichukwu Stephanie Chiejine passed on after a brief illness on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. Ifeanyi captained the first set of the U19 National Women’s team to the first U19 (Now U20) FIFAWomen World Cup in 2002.

She had been a senior international, taking part in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups and the 2000 and 2008 Summer Olympics. As of 2007, she had scored 15 goals in 61 games for Nigeria

She was 36 years old.

 Tony Anyasodor

Nollywood actor, Tony Uzordinma Anyasodor, died at the Federal Medical Centre Owerri in the early hours of Thursday, March 7, 2019, following a battle with diabetes.

Anyasodor’s death came two months and four days after the death of his colleague, Gbenga Akintunde aka Burger, who died at the age of 47 on January 4, 2019.

The late Anyasodor was popular for his roles in several Nollywood movies, including ‘Heavy Storm 1 & 2,’ ‘Beyond the Verdict 1 & 2,’ ‘Fire Dancer 1 & 2’, among others.

The Nation