Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, has expressed deep concerns about the rising number of untimely deaths within the Nigerian film industry.
In an interview with Vanguard in Lagos, Ozokwor attributed these tragedies to what she sees as negligence and carelessness among actors.
The respected actress shared her distress during the emotional funeral of beloved comic actor John Okafor, known as Mr. Ibu, in Enugu State last month.
“When you are doing something you enjoy, you often neglect your health. You keep pushing forward, and it takes a toll on your body,” Mama G explained.
“Some people are so careless that when they are sick, instead of going to the hospital for a proper check-up, they go to a chemist or pharmacy for a pain reliever. It’s dangerous. That’s why I blame it on carelessness. We try to make others smile while forgetting to take care of ourselves.”
Regarding her emotional reaction at Mr. Ibu’s burial, she recounted, “I broke down in tears when I approached his corpse and called him by the name I used to call him, but he didn’t respond. It hit me that he was truly gone forever.”
Mama G advised her colleagues to prioritize regular health check-ups and be mindful of habits that harm their well-being.
Now an evangelist, she shared a transformative encounter with God in 2016. “I was called to work for Him. At first, I didn’t understand, but it became clear when I dedicated myself to 21 days of separation, which extended to 30 days. By the end, I was a changed person. He created opportunities for me to testify about my experience, and people began to invite me to their programs. That’s how I became an evangelist.”