Untold Story Of How Late Alexx Ekubo Began His Nollywood Career

Nigerian Veteran film director, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, has shared how the late Alex Ekubo began his journey in Nollywood.

According to Imasuen, Ekubo did not set out to become an actor. Instead, an opportunity and his closeness to the film industry sparked his interest, eventually launching his acting career.

The director said his bond with Alexx Ekubo’s family goes back to their early days in Surulere, Lagos. They lived in the same neighbourhood at the time.

He explained that he was close to Ekubo’s father. He often got permission to use their home for film shoots.

He added that a young Ekubo, then still in secondary school, would watch the film crews work whenever they came around.

“He was always observing us on set,” Imasuen said, noting that the curiosity eventually became passion.”

The change came during a Nollywood shoot in the early 2000s. The cast then included veterans such as Justus Esiri, Ngozi Ezeonu, Empress Njamah, Charles Inojie, and Charles Awurum.

According to Imasuen, the production suddenly needed a small role to be filled. The request came at the last minute.

He said he noticed a teenager quietly watching the shoot. The director decided to give the young observer a chance on screen.

He told him, “You have been watching us all this time. Today, you will act.”

That last-minute decision became Alex Ekubo’s first on-screen role. Director Lancelot Imasuen said the young performer delivered his lines with confidence and impressed the entire crew.

After filming wrapped, Ekubo received his first acting payment. However, the money was given to Alexx’s mother because Alexx had returned to school in Calabar.

He said, “She was very happy. It meant so much to her that her son had started earning from acting.”

The late actor later moved into modelling. He also took part in the Mr Nigeria pageant. From there, he steadily built his career. He went on to become one of Nollywood’s most recognisable faces.

Imasuen described his death as “painful and unbelievable.” He said the industry had lost a rare talent.