NIGERIA’S music icon, Ms Onyeka Onwenu, has died. She slumped and died after performing at the 80th birthday party of the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Ms Stella Chinyelu Okoli, in Lagos on Tuesday.
Ms Onwenu was confirmed dead at Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos, where she was treated after the collapse. She died at the age of 72. The family is yet to confirm her death.
She hailed from Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, but was raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
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Ms Onwenu worked briefly at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), where she made a great impact in early 1980s. She came to light after producing a documentary entitled, ‘Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches,’ which focused on the corruption in the country.
She has produced several songs, including ‘In The Morning Light,’ ‘One Love,’ and ‘Dancing In The Sun,’ among others.
She also featured in several Nigerian movies such as ‘Nightmare,’ ‘Widows Cot’, ‘Rising Moon’ and ‘Lion Heart.’
She is a politician, who contested for local government chairmanship twice but failed. However, she was appointed as Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
