Some lives leave marks that ripple far beyond the moments in time they occupy. In Nigerian film, music, sports and media, 2025 saw the departure of voices, faces, and talents that, for many decades, contributed to how we laugh, celebrate. These were people who did more than just perform or play, they inspired many and created connections across generations, leaving legacies threaded into everyday life.
Here, we highlight the stars we lost, not only noting the facts of their deaths but tracing the impact of their work. While the years move forward, the echoes of their craft remain, reminding us of what it means to influence culture and leave a mark that outlives a single lifetime.
Anike Agbaje-Williams
Occupation: Broadcaster and TV host
Date of birth: October 23, 1936
Date of death: February 26, 2025
Age: 88
Anike Agbaje-Williams did not only work in broadcasting; she helped pioneer it in Nigeria. As the first female television announcer in the country and the first voice heard on Western Nigerian Television, she shaped how Nigerians learned to listen, trust, and gather around screens. Her delivery was sharp and warm, a blueprint for broadcast professionalism in Nigeria.
Her passing closed a chapter of Nigerian media history defined by institutional firsts. Every Nigerian broadcaster working today operates in a space she helped clear, often without applause, long before visibility became currency.
Nkechi Nweje
Occupation: Actress
Date of birth: June 5, 1965
Date of death: March 21, 2025
Age: 60
Nkechi Nweje’s career was shaped by emotional performances. She mostly appeared in Igbo-based Nollywood movies, playing women defined by circumstance but never reduced by it. From roles that explored grief to resilience and moral tension, her performances carried cultural weight and interpersonal dynamics that resonate outside regional storytelling.
She died following complications from surgery. Nweje’s impact will be remembered through movies such as Back from Congo (2016), Ritual of Vengeance (2021) and Yadiba (2022).
Christian Chukwu
Occupation: Footballer and coach
Date of birth: January 4, 1951
Date of death: April 12, 2025
Age: 74
This may resonate heavily with the millennial and boomers. Long before European pipelines and global endorsements for Nigerian footballers, Christian Chukwu had raised the dust on the pitch. As the team lead of Nigeria’s national team, then known as Green Eagles, during its first African Cup Of Nation victory in 1980, Christian Chukwu became the first Nigerian football captain to lift the prestigious continental trophy.
Over time, his name became synonymous with discipline and composure. His understanding of Nigerian football, teamwork and tactical intelligence earned him managerial position in the Kenya national team in 1998, the Super Eagles in 2003 to 2005, and Enugu Rangers in 2008 to 2009, before becoming its general manager and chief executive officer. Christian Chukwu passed away after a long illness. His legacy remains foundational to Nigerian football identity.
Subscribe to Zikoko Pop newsletter, The Feed, for the most important pop culture news
Bolaji Olanrewaju, AKA Big Bolaji
Occupation: Gospel musician and on-air personality
Date of birth: November 15, 1974
Date of death: April 19, 2025
Age: 50
Big Bolaji’s voice, songwriting and music was direct and rich. His ministry was built as a space where worship met everyday struggle and faith felt really close. He was known for his Turn It Up concert, a praise-and-worship session, organised in Ibadan every year. He passed away after a brief illness. Big Bolaji’s impact lives in how he treated worship as conversation, not just as performance. He lives on through his tracks like “God Father”, “Real to Me” and “Baba Lo Soun Gbogbo.”
Mike Ejeagha
Occupation: Musician
Date of birth: April 4, 1930
Date of death: June 6, 2025
Age: 95
Mike Ejeagha, also known as Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, was an archive in human form. Through music, he preserved Igbo folklore, moral philosophy and oral tradition at a time when the culture;s survival was threated. His storytelling was deliberate and rooted in communal memory, resisting trends in favour of cultural and traditional continuity.
The legendary folk musician experienced an unprecedented career revival following the viral success of his classic track, “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche”, which was propelled by a popular dance trend by comedian Brain Jotter. The song’s “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo” hook dominated digital platforms. This resurgence resulted in a record-breaking achievement, as Ejeagha became the oldest Nigerian musician to debut on the Apple Music Top 100 charts. Ejeagha’s legacy is immeasurable because it exists beyond entertainment. His work remains a cultural reference point, a reminder that music can function as history and heritage at the same time.
READ NEXT: 10 Nigerian Artists We Should Be Obsessed With in 2026
Kayode Peters
Occupation: Actor, producer and director
Date of birth: September 25, 1976
Date of death: June 28, 2025
Age: 49
Kayode Peters was instrumental in shaping Nigeria’s contemporary comedy and television storytelling. It all started with a flair for acting in Unilag’s Theatre 15. Since his foray into acting and filmmaking, he had gained popularity from Papa Ajasco and Company, earned a Masters in film and TV, directed plays, produced shows and films such as The Twilight Zone (2000), My Flatmates (2004), Excuse My African (2018), 13 Letters (2019) and Crazy Grannies (2021)
His work has also consistently captured the attention of global juries, sweeping the Best Short categories at TIFF Toronto and the Indie Film Festival in London with Bring ’em Back. One of his directorial works, Identical Justice, earned a triple-win at TINFF and further solidified his reputation as a professional who understood timing, character, and the importance of laughter as social commentary. He died in Toronto, after a prolonged illness.
Peter Rufai
Occupation: Footballer
Date of birth: August 23, 1963
Date of death: July 3, 2025
Age: 61
Peter Rufai, famously known by his nickname, Dodo Mayana, was Nigeria’s last line of defence during some of its most defining football moments of the late 1980s and the 1990s. Calm under pressure, he brought reliability and stability to the Super Eagles across multiple international tournaments. He was a legendary goalkeeper who captained the national team 65 times.
His career is defined by several historic milestones as the first-choice goalkeeper when Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia. He was World Cup OG who represented Nigeria at two FIFA World Cups, starting in both the 1994 (USA) and 1998 (France) tournaments and helped the team reach the Round of 16 both times. Also, in a rare achievement for a goalkeeper, he scored a penalty goal for Nigeria during a 6-0 victory over Ethiopia in a 1993 AFCON qualifier.
Peter Rufai enjoyed a successful 20-year professional career in Europe, playing for clubs such as Lokeren (Belgium), Farense (Portugal), and Deportivo La Coruña (Spain). He died after an illness and his legacy endures not only in match highlights but in the confidence he gave Nigerian football during its formative global years.
Olusegun Akinremi, AKA Chief Kanran
Occupation: Actor
Date of birth: September 3, 1952
Date of death: August 13, 2025
Age: 69
Chief Kanran’s comedy was a cultural translation. He understood Yoruba humour as philosophy, using exaggeration and wit to reflect social realities. He began his acting career on stage in 1975. One of his most significant early roles was playing the title character in the play Kurunmi by Professor Ola Rotimi. He was part of the cast for Langbodo, which was Nigeria’s official drama entry for the historic Festac ’77 festival held at the National Arts Theatre.
He transitioned from stage to screen and appeared in popular TV series like Mirror in the Sun and the soap opera Images. He also played General Philips in the hit TV soap Megafortune. He earned his famous nickname after his iconic portrayal of Alaafin Kanran in a 1988 drama aired on Lagos Television. Chief Kanran passed away in August 2025, shortly after his last acting performance in Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors.
Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu
Occupation: Journalist, broadcaster, lawyer and model
Date of birth: December 26, 1995
Date of death: September 29, 2025
Age: 29
Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, affectionately known by colleagues and viewers as “Sommie,” was a multifaceted professional who bridged the worlds of legal practice and broadcast journalism. A UK-trained lawyer by trade, she initially honed her analytical skills as a legal executive at the International Dispute Resolution Institute (IDRI). However, her transition to the screen revealed her true calling. As a prominent news anchor and producer for Arise News, Abuja she became a new generation of Nigerian journalists redefining broadcast professionalism, a trusted voice, known for her ability to dissect complex legal and social issues with remarkable poise and clarity.
She was a particularly staunch supporter of the Reserved Seats Bill, a legislative effort aimed at ensuring women had a guaranteed and meaningful presence in Nigerian governance. In 2023, she achieved national visibility on a different stage, being crowned the first runner-up in the Miss Tourism Nigeria pageant. Her charisma and versatility showed her talents and commitment to represent the cultural richness of Nigeria.
She died after jumping from the third floor of her Abuja apartment in an attempt to escape an armed robbery attack. Her death shocked the nation and reignited conversations about insecurity. Sommie’s impact lies in how quickly she earned trust as a reporter and media personality.
Allwell Ademola
Occupation: Actress and producer
Date of birth: August 9, 1976
Date of death: December 27, 2025
Age: 49
Allwell Ademola’s career as a performer actually took root in her childhood. In 1985, while serving as the head of the cultural and dramatic society at her school, she was scouted by the legendary Wole Amele. This led to her screen debut on the NTA television show Animal Games with Uncle Wole. She soon became a familiar face to a generation of young viewers through her appearances in the iconic children’s series Tales by Moonlight.
These early experiences laid the foundation for her transition into the professional industry. By 1992, at just 16 years old, she began appearing in Nollywood films alongside veterans like Jide Kosoko, and even making her mark on the stage at the National Theatre.
In her adult career, she became a powerhouse within the Yoruba-language sector of Nollywood, celebrated for her work in films like Ile Wa (2018), where she played the memorable role of “Mama Kate.” She was also a dedicated mentor who nurtured emerging talent and helped launch the careers of rising stars like actor Rotimi Salami. She also expanded her artistry into music, forming and leading her own band, Allwell and Company.
She died after a heart attack, just hours after she had shared an optimistic post about making it to a new year on Instagram. Her passing was both sudden and disorienting, closing 2025 with grief.
ALSO READ: The 10 Best Nollywood Movies to Watch On Netflix (January 2026)
[/ad]
