Ifeanyi Ezeokeke, Once Nollywood’s “Ugo Shave Me,” Has Been Bedridden Since His Teens

Ifeanyi Ezeokeke, popularly known by his Nollywood stage name “Ugo Shave Me,” is once again at the center of public concern after a fresh video detailing his prolonged battle with illness began circulating widely online.

The clip, shared by social media personality and brand influencer Emmanuel Okwuluora Okoh Onyeka, has reignited calls for support for the former child actor, who is said to have been bedridden for nearly two decades.

Ezeokeke rose to fame in 1999 after his role in the Nollywood movie Conspiracy, in which he played a character who repeatedly cried out the line “Ugo, shave me.” The scene became one of the era’s most memorable, and the phrase stuck with him as a nickname that has followed him ever since.

He gained recognition for his role as a madman in the film, which co-starred Nkem Owoh, Onyeka Onwenu, Charles Okafor and Larry Koldsweat, and he went on to appear in other productions during his career as a child actor in the late 1990s.

In the video shared by Okwuluora, the influencer appealed for help to keep Ezeokeke alive, naming some of the actor’s senior colleagues in the industry as he made the case for urgent intervention. According to him, the actor has been down for 19 years and lost his father during that period.

He also said Ezeokeke‘s mother was hit by a car and now has metal in her leg, leaving her struggling to care for her son alone. Okwuluora further claimed that Ezeokeke has not received proper medical care because of poverty, and that the family’s current living conditions are unsuitable given his state of health.

He called for financial contributions both for the actor’s treatment and to help build a small house for him and his mother.

The claims made in the video have not been independently verified through hospital records or official medical statements, and the precise nature of Ezeokeke‘s illness remains unconfirmed. Various accounts over the years have described his condition in different ways, with some referring to paralysis affecting his speech and movement, while others have speculated about a stroke or a reaction following an accident.

A medical professional has confirmed that none of these explanations is correct, and the family has not issued an official diagnosis to the public.

This is not the first time Ezeokeke‘s health has drawn national attention. Legit.ng had previously reported that his condition became known publicly around 2020, after fellow actors Diewait Ikpechukwu and Ejike Okoye visited him and shared images showing signs of paralysis. Since then, periodic videos and appeals have surfaced showing his deteriorating condition, each time prompting renewed waves of sympathy and donations from members of the public and the Nollywood community.

Among those who have visited him is fellow actor Chukwudi Okoro Ikenta, a colleague from his early years in the industry. Ikenta marked his own birthday by visiting Ezeokeke, describing him as a childhood friend now dependent on care due to a condition affecting his speech and movement.

In his message accompanying the video, Ikenta explained he had missed visiting on the actual date because he was away from Enugu, and noted that his colleague was also born in April like him. He used the moment to encourage his followers to support vulnerable people in their communities.

Reactions to the latest video have been emotional, with many social media users expressing sadness over how little support has reportedly reached Ezeokeke despite years of public appeals. Some commenters questioned why only a handful of senior industry figures were named in the call for help, urging a wider circle of Nollywood veterans to step in.

Others used the moment to highlight a broader concern about the welfare of ageing or ailing actors and actresses in the Nigerian film industry, many of whom they say battle prolonged illness without structured support from the industry they helped build.

Ezeokeke, who hails from Enugu State, has remained largely out of the public eye since his illness began, aside from periodic videos shared by friends, colleagues and visitors. He has not married and has no children, according to available biographical information. Reports indicate he once had a relationship before his illness took hold, though details of his personal life beyond that remain limited.

As of now, there is no confirmation of a structured fundraising campaign, an official medical update, or a statement from a verified spokesperson for the Ezeokeke family regarding the latest appeal.

Members of the public who wish to verify the situation or offer support are advised to exercise caution, as the appeals so far have circulated primarily via informal social media videos rather than official channels.