Breaking: Veteran Nollywood Actor Chief Fabian Adibe Passes On at 82

Veteran Nollywood actor, Chief Fabian Adibe, has passed away in the early hours of today at the age of 82.

With a career spanning more than five decades, Adibe was a household name in Nigeria’s film and television industry. He appeared in over 300 films, beginning his acting journey on stage in the 1970s, a period when theatre and televised drama laid the foundation for what would later become Nollywood.

Adibe rose to prominence in 1987 after his unforgettable role as Uzowulu in the NTA television adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s literary masterpiece Things Fall Apart. His performance brought to life one of Achebe’s most complex characters and cemented his place as a serious actor at a time when Nigeria’s film industry was still in its formative years.

Through the 1990s and early 2000s, Chief Adibe became one of Nollywood’s most reliable father figures on screen, often portraying calm, wise, and principled characters. He featured in classics such as Isakaba, Billionaires’ Club, and Dangerous Mind, among many others. His roles not only entertained but also shaped how Nollywood was perceived globally during its golden years.

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A native of Abia State, Adibe belonged to the pioneering generation of actors who transitioned from stage and television drama into full-scale Nollywood cinema in the early 1990s. His contributions helped legitimise the industry, which has since grown into one of the largest film industries in the world.

Chief Adibe was also known off-screen for mentoring younger actors and lending his voice to calls for professionalism in Nollywood.

As tributes continue to pour in, colleagues and fans are remembering him as a pillar of Nigeria’s film heritage, whose body of work will remain a reference point for generations to come.

Chief Fabian Adibe’s legacy will forever be remembered.