Rachel Oniga, popular Nollywood actress dies at 64

 

Popular and highly respected Nollywood actress, Rachel Oniga, has reportedly died of an unknown ailment. She was aged 64.

There are varied reports of the cause of her death. Whereas a source said that she died at a COVID-19 Isolation Centre in Lagos, her son, Olatunji, reportedly told a newspaper that she died on Friday of complication rising from malaria and typhoid fever.

“She passed last night around 10pm. She had malaria and typhoid,” Olatunji was quoted as saying.

Oniga featured in scores of Nollywood movies, both English and Yoruba.

Born on May 23, 1957; the delectable actress began her career in 1993. Her first movie was the blockbuster, Onome, while her debut movie in the Yoruba speaking sector of the film industry was Owo Blow.

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The 64-year-old actress used to work for a European engineering consultancy firm with its regional head office in Nigeria.

In an interview, she had noted that she stopped working when she got married and started having children. Unfortunately, her marriage did not last.

So, after her separation from the father of her kids, she took up acting again.

Oniga revealed in the interview that one of her regrets in life was that she did not fight for her marriage.

In the span of her career, which was about 27 years, the multiple award-winning actress featured in movies like The Wedding Party, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, 30 Days in Atlanta, Sango, Out of Bounds, among others.

She hailed from Eku, Delta State.