Nollywood Actor Cjay Nwokafor Dies at Lagos Hospital as Nkechi Blessing, Colleagues Mourn.
The Nigerian film industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of Nollywood actor Chijioke “Cjay” Nwokafor, whose passing was announced on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Nwokafor’s death was confirmed publicly by actress Nkechi Blessing, who shared an emotional video and tributes to her colleague on Instagram. Reports from multiple Nigerian media outlets said the actor was pronounced dead at a hospital in the Badore area of Lagos State. The circumstances and cause of his death had not been publicly disclosed as of the time of reporting.
Blessing said she had spoken with Cjay at about 8 a.m. on Wednesday, only to receive news of his death a few hours later. The actress also announced the cancellation of the scheduled release of her movie, Egusi Ogbono, in which Cjay featured. The film had been scheduled for release at 5 p.m. that day.
The announcement prompted expressions of grief and disbelief from members of the entertainment industry. Actor Charles Born reportedly said he had planned to visit Cjay at a clinic, while actor Emeka Nwagbaraocha also expressed shock over the death, according to reports.
Cjay began his professional acting career in 2021 and appeared in a number of Nollywood productions, including Larry Cold, Mum Overnight, A Day to My Wedding, The Lies She Tell and What Time Left. He was reported to be an indigene of Anambra State and was based in Lagos.
His death comes at a time when the Nigerian film industry is again confronting the loss of one of its emerging talents. While tributes continue to emerge from colleagues and fans, further information about the circumstances of his death and funeral arrangements had not been released by his family or representatives as of the latest reports.