Entertainment News
Junior Pope laid to rest amid tears
Nollywood actor, Junior Pope, who passed away on April 10 during the filming of “Other Side of Life,” has been laid to rest amid emotional scenes in Enugu State.
The 43-year-old’s burial took place in his hometown of Uwala Abaka, Ukehe, in Nsukka, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area.
The final rites began with an episcopal burial mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Ukehe, where friends, family, and fans gathered to pay their last respects.
Prominent figures in the entertainment industry, including Destiny Etiko, Rita Edochie, E-Money, Chinwe Owoh, Benson Okonkwo, singer Kcee, and Zubby Michael, attended the funeral. Attendees shared their personal memories and celebrated Jnr Pope’s significant contributions to Nigerian cinema.
Jennifer Awele, the actor’s wife, was visibly moved during the ceremony. Rita Edochie, a close colleague, expressed her deep sorrow, stating on Instagram how surreal it felt to bid farewell to Jnr Pope. “I arrived last night, and since then, I have been wondering if he is the person everybody is gathering for. This was a reality,” she wrote.
The funeral arrangements for Jnr Pope began on April 23 with a requiem mass at Saint John-Mary Vianney Parish in Asaba, Delta State. Another mass was held on May 13 at Christ the King Catholic Parish in G.R.A, Enugu. On May 14, a tribute and candlelight event took place at the Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu, followed by a wake on May 16 at his country home in Uwala Abaka.
The ceremonies will conclude with a thanksgiving mass at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Ukehe on Sunday. Jnr Pope is survived by his wife and three sons, leaving behind a legacy in the Nigerian film industry.