The candlelight night service of late Nollywood star Alexx Ekubo became more than a memorial. It became a night of tears, prayers, painful memories and deep reflection for Nigeria’s entertainment industry. On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, loved ones, family members, top Nollywood figures, friends and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the life of a man whose presence, according to many who spoke, could not easily be replaced.
But among all the emotional moments of the night, one scene stood out. A pastor, addressing the gathering, turned his words directly to Alexx Ekubo’s wife, Anuli. His voice carried both sympathy and spiritual conviction as he praised her courage and prayed that God would comfort her in a season no wife ever wants to face.
“My beloved daughter, his wife Anuli, you’ve been strong. You’ve been very strong,” the pastor said during the service.
Those words immediately changed the atmosphere. For many people watching, it was not just a prayer. It was a public recognition of a woman who had carried grief quietly while the whole nation mourned her husband.
The pastor continued by asking the crowd to appreciate her strength. He told the guests to give her a round of applause, saying that her courage deserved honour. In a hall already heavy with emotion, the applause reportedly became one of the most touching moments of the evening.
The prayer also carried a powerful message of hope. The pastor declared that God would strengthen Anuli and turn pain into testimony. “What the devil meant for evil, my almighty God will turn to good,” he said, reminding mourners that faith remained the family’s strongest anchor.
The candlelight service was not only about grief. It was also about remembering the personality, faith and impact of Alexx Ekubo. Speaker after speaker described him as a man who loved deeply, gave freely and lived with uncommon warmth.
One of the most emotional tributes of the night came from his father, whose message was read on his behalf. In the tribute, he described the day he received the news of Alexx’s passing as the darkest day of his life. He said no father ever imagines writing a tribute to his own son, calling the pain a wound that words could not heal.
“My dear son, Alex, the day I received the news of your passing was the darkest day of my life,” the tribute read.
The father remembered Alexx as a precious gift from God, a son who brought honour, joy and happiness to the family. He described his smile as one that lit up every room and his laughter as a source of comfort. According to the tribute, Alexx was respectful, cheerful, compassionate and full of dignity.
But what broke many hearts was the father’s wish for “more years” with his son. He expressed the pain of not being able to hear Alexx’s voice again, see his smile again or watch him continue life’s journey beside his beloved wife, Anuli.
That line touched many Nigerians because it captured the tragedy of loss in its rawest form. Alexx was not only a celebrity to fans. He was a husband, son, brother, cousin, friend and source of joy to many people who knew him privately.
Another deeply moving tribute came from a cousin who described Alexx as more than family. He called him his brother, best friend, confidant and “co-pilot in life.” He admitted that it was impossible to compress 40 years of memories into a few minutes.
His words painted a picture of a man whose absence would leave a deep silence. He said the family was not only grieving a person, but a presence — a voice they could call, a heart they could rely on and a soul that made life easier for everyone around him.
This description strongly matched what many Nollywood colleagues and fans have repeatedly said about Alexx Ekubo over the years. To them, he was not just a handsome face on screen. He was a man known for charm, generosity, humour and loyalty.
Several speakers at the candlelight night also focused on his faith. One guest described him as a “crazy lover of Jesus” and a “radical lover of God.” Another said Alexx lived for God and that his spirituality was visible in the way he treated people.
For some mourners, that became the biggest consolation. They said he came into the world, gave everything he had and returned to his maker “empty” because he had poured out his gifts, love and kindness while alive.
The emotional service also reminded many people of the role Alexx played in bringing others closer to God. One speaker said his wife had once shared that he helped bring her closer to God. This became one of the most powerful spiritual angles of the night: Alexx was remembered not only as a Nollywood star, but as a man who used love, worship and kindness to influence the lives around him.
Still, the most heartbreaking focus remained Anuli. Many Nigerians online are expected to react strongly to the pastor’s public prayer for her because it exposed the private weight of widowhood behind the glamour of celebrity life.
In Nigerian culture, the death of a husband carries a heavy emotional and social burden for a wife. When the person is a public figure, the grief becomes even more complicated. The widow is forced to mourn while the whole country watches, comments, analyses and sometimes even judges. That is why the pastor’s words — “you’ve been strong” — struck so deeply.
Some people may see the moment as a beautiful act of spiritual support. Others may argue that widows should not always be expected to appear strong when they are broken inside. This is where the debate may grow: should society praise grieving women for strength, or should it allow them to collapse, cry and heal without pressure?
The candlelight service also raised another emotional question: how does Nollywood move forward after losing a figure who represented joy, style, talent and kindness to millions of fans? Alexx Ekubo built a career that made him one of the most recognisable faces in modern Nigerian entertainment. But from the tributes, it was clear that his greatest legacy may not be the movies alone. It may be the way he treated people when cameras were off.
Friends described him as a giver. Family members described him as loyal. Speakers described him as a man of faith. His father described him as a son any parent would be proud of. His wife was publicly honoured as a woman who stood strong through pain. Together, these memories created an image of a man whose influence stretched far beyond the screen.
As candles burned and voices rose in worship, the night became a painful farewell to a beloved son of Nollywood. It was not just a ceremony. It was a reminder that fame does not protect anyone from grief, sickness or death. It was also a reminder that the people left behind often carry the heaviest burden.
For Anuli, the road ahead will not be easy. But the prayer spoken over her at the candlelight service captured what many Nigerians are wishing for her now: comfort, strength and peace.
And for Alexx Ekubo, the tributes made one thing clear — his name will not disappear quickly. His smile, his faith, his generosity and his unforgettable presence will continue to live in the hearts of those who loved him.
The night ended in sorrow, but also in worship. It ended with tears, but also with gratitude. It ended with one painful truth that many Nigerians are still struggling to accept: Alexx Ekubo may be gone, but the love he left behind is still speaking loudly.
