Public donations reached ₦7.5 million for Mr. Mrs.’s widow, his children after an appeal for emergency assistance

The family of late Nollywood comic actor John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, has received financial support of ₦7.5 million from Nigerians following a public appeal highlighting their struggles with rent, school fees and other basic needs.

The fundraising update was announced on Friday by content creator King Mitchy via his Instagram page, two days after he shared an emotional interview in which the actor’s widow and children asked for help.

Expressing his thanks to all parties who had contributed, Raja Mitchy revealed that the donation exceeded expectations.

“First of all, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who donated. Together, we were able to raise ₦7.5 million for the family. God bless you all,” he wrote.

He explained that the funds would be used to pay off the children’s outstanding school fees, including his eldest daughter’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees, as well as help the family pay off their house rent.

“This assistance will help pay the children’s school fees, including the eldest daughter’s WAEC fees, which they cannot afford. It will also help them with rent,” he added.

King Mitchy also revealed that after speaking at length with the widow regarding the family’s financial situation, he advised her to move to a cheaper apartment that would be easier to maintain.

He further stated that more portions of his conversation with the family would be made public to answer the questions many Nigerians have been asking since the call received widespread attention.

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“I only met him two days ago after a neighbor called me for help. I knew nothing about the family’s situation beforehand. My only focus from the start was making sure the children got the help they deserved,” he said.

The donation was made after a viral video showed Mr Ibu’s widow describing the difficult conditions the family had experienced since the actor’s death.

In the emotional interview, he revealed that their electricity supply had been cut off for around two months due to unpaid bills, forcing the family to live without electricity. He also revealed that they depend on water from wells and the children have stopped going to school because their school fees have not been paid.

Mr. Ibu, one of Nigeria’s most renowned comic actors, died on March 2, 2024, at the age of 62 after a prolonged illness.