Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor has expressed deep sorrow over the death of her colleague and Nigerian music icon, Onyeka Onwenu. Onwenu, who began her music career in the 1980s and gained fame with her debut album “For the Love of You” and the hit song “One Love,” tragically passed away after collapsing at the 80th birthday party of Stella Okolie, CEO of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, in Lagos. Despite being rushed to Reddington Hospital, Onwenu could not be saved.

Reacting to the news on Wednesday, Patience Ozokwor said, “Onyeka is not just a colleague but a friend. I am downcast now and hurting because of her death and for the fact that she was not sick.” She added, “How can everyone be dying like that, what is causing so much death? Everyone is stressed up in this country.”

Onyeka Onwenu’s contributions to both the music and film industries have been widely recognized, earning her numerous awards. Besides her entertainment career, she was also involved in politics, further cementing her legacy.

President Bola Tinubu also conveyed his condolences to Onwenu’s family and the entertainment industry. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu lauded Onwenu’s impact on Nigerian music and prayed for the repose of her soul.