Chioma Chukwuka Announces Father’s Death, Says ‘Having Neither Parent Breaks My Heart’

Nollywood actress Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha has announced the death of her father, Leonard Ndukaife Chukwuka, saying the loss has left her facing a pain she finds difficult to express.

The actress shared the news on Instagram on Friday, revealing that her father had “gone to be with the Lord.” She said she had kept the development private while trying to process her grief before deciding to make the announcement.

Chukwuka recalled that she lost her mother 13 years ago and said her father’s death means she is now without either parent.

“My beloved father, Leonard Ndukaife Chukwuka, has gone to be with the Lord,” she wrote.

“I lost my mother 13 years ago and now that my father is gone, the thought that I have neither parent here anymore breaks my heart in a way I cannot fully explain. So na only me bayi?”

The actress described her late father affectionately as “my daddy, papa’m, obara’m, my comfort” and expressed gratitude for the life he lived. She said she was thankful that he lived long enough to see his children and grandchildren.

Chukwuka said the family had hoped her father would also meet his great-grandchildren, but that hope was not fulfilled. She reflected on the difficulty of losing a parent, regardless of how many years they spend together.

“No matter how many years we are given with a parent, we still want one more conversation, one more embrace, one more day,” she wrote.

The actress said she remained grateful for the memories and moments she shared with her father, particularly during the later years of his life. She also appealed to the public to remember her, her siblings and the entire Chukwuka family in their prayers.

She concluded her tribute by calling her father the “Olowo of Ikate” and reaffirming her love for him. Funeral arrangements, she said, would be announced when the family was ready.

Chukwuka accompanied her announcement with biblical passages, including Proverbs 17:6 and Psalm 34:18, which speaks of God being close to those who are brokenhearted.