Nollywood stars, musicians and public figures graced the occasion in all-white at The Monarch Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 to pay tribute to the late actor Alexx Ekubo at an emotional service of songs.
It was also the official beginning of the final funeral rites for the former Mr. Nigeria runner-up who died on May 11, 2026 at the age of 40 after a private battle with advanced kidney cancer.
Big names in the creative sector such as Funke Akindele, Ini Edo, Kate Henshaw, Stan Nze, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and socialite Cubana Chief Priest filled the auditorium in the company of former presidential candidate Oby Ezekwesili. The solemn event had Pastor Ituah Ighodalo leading non-stop worship sessions and prayers for the widow of the late actor, Anwuli.
Friends in the industry and close friends shared personal anecdotes of Ekubo’s decade-long career. Actor IK Ogbonna gave an emotional tribute, talking about their close personal and professional brotherhood, while singer Yemi Alade told the congregation that Ekubo helped her at the beginning of her career by featuring in her breakout hit music video, “Johnny,” without charging her a performance fee.
The high-profile nature of the event also shone a spotlight on the ongoing tensions over media boundary lines at celebrity funerals. Veteran actress Shaffy Bello got much social media attention after she walked away from a digital reporter who tried to do a red-carpet-style interview outside the venue hall, a move that many attendees praised as a necessary step to protect the privacy of the grieving family.
The funeral proceedings now shift to the home state of the late actor. After the ceremonies in Lagos, the Ekubo family has announced that a formal wake service will be held on Wednesday, June 17, at their family compound in Arochukwu, Abia State. The final interment and burial service are scheduled for Thursday, June 18.
