Nollywood actress and filmmaker Nkechi Blessing Sunday is mourning the sudden death of her close friend and colleague, actor Chijioke Temidayo Nwokafor, known professionally as Cjay, who died on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at a hospital in Badore, Lagos.
Nkechi was the first public figure to confirm his death, doing so in an emotional Instagram video filmed at the hospital. Visibly overwhelmed with grief, she struggled to find the words to break the news to her followers. She later returned with a second post, a video collage of memories she had shared with Cjay, writing simply, “Cjay, this was never the plan.”
What made the loss especially difficult for Nkechi was the timing. She revealed she had spoken with Cjay only hours before learning of his death, with no warning that anything was wrong. No cause of death has been disclosed.
The timing also collided directly with her own work. Nkechi’s new film, Egusi Ogbono, had been scheduled for release at 5pm that same Wednesday. Following news of Cjay’s death, she called off the launch, choosing to postpone it rather than proceed as planned.
Cjay, who hailed from Awka, Anambra State, and was based in Lagos, began his professional acting career in 2021. Tributes have continued to pour in from colleagues across the industry, including actresses Fathia Williams and Peggy Ovire, alongside an outpouring of condolences from fans who had followed his work since he started out.
