72 years old was a Nigerian singer/songwriter, actress, human rights and social activist, journalist, politician, and former X Factor series judge, Ms Onyeka Onwenu is dead according to unconfirmed sources.
According to reports, Onyeka Onwenu died on Tuesday night after performing at an event at Banana Island, Lagos.
She was later confirmed dead at a hospital in Victoria Island, The Guardian Newspaper reported. Her family is yet to confirm the death.
According to Wikipedia, Onwenu hailed from Arondizuogu, a big town in Ideato North, Imo State, southeastern Nigeria, but was raised in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State, Nigeria. She was the youngest daughter of Nigerian educationist and politician D. K. Onwenu, who died when she was four years old in an autocrash a week before his appointment as Minister for Education, thereby leaving his widow, Hope, to raise five children alone after her husband’s family denied her access to his property.
Onyeka Onwenu was born in 1952, in Obosi, Anambra State, Nigeria. She began her music career in the 1980s and released her debut album, “For the Love of You,” in 1981. She has since released numerous albums and singles, including the hit song “One Love.”
Onwenu has also acted in several Nollywood films and has won numerous awards for her contributions to music and film. She has been recognised as one of the pioneers of Nigerian music.
In addition to her entertainment career, she was appointed as the Chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture in 2013 and later became the Director-General/Chief Executive officer of the National Centre for Women Development in 2016 under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Onwenu has been recognized for her contributions to Nigerian society, including being awarded the National Honors of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011. She has also been recognized as one of the most influential women in Nigeria by various organisations.
The death of Onyeka Onwenu remains a big loss to the Igbo ethnic group and entertainment industry as this is the 3rd prominent personality from the eastern part of Nigeria who has passed in the last 2 weeks.
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