John Okafor (Mr. Ibu) Biography and Net Worth in 2023
John Okafor (Nick Name: Mr. Ibu, born on October 17, 1960; Age: Sixty three years old) is a Nigerian actor and comic, extremely regarded as one in all Nigeria’s most comedian characters. He has an estimated net worth of $3.5 million.
John Okafor is more frequently known as Mr. Ibu after an extremely popular function he played. However, he had already followed the title from his grandfather, whom he says was his mentor and inspiration for doing comedy.
John Okafor is surely some of the funniest males in Nigeria, despite the fact that his existence hasn’t just been a barrel of snickers. His roles with Chinedu Ikedieze, Sam Loco Efe, Nkem Owoh, amongst different nice actors, aided his immediate upward push to reputation and his mouth-watering net worth of $3.Five million. However, past his a lot successful life, there's a lot to be informed about this nice actor.
Mr Ibu’s Profile Summary
- Real Name: John Ikechukwu Okafor
- Nickname: Mr Ibu
- Gender: Male
- Date of Birth: October 17, 1960
- Place of Birth: Nkanu West, Enugu State
- Mr Ibu’s Age: 63 years previous
- Ethnicity: Igbo
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Zodiac Sign: Libra
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Profession: Actor, Comedian, Singer
- Marital Status: Married
- Mr Ibu’s Wife: Stella Maris Okafor (m. 2015)
- Mr Ibu’s Children: 5 Kids, together with Emmanuel Okafor, Chelsea Okafor, Jay Jay Okafor
- Mr Ibu’s Heght in inches: 5 toes 5 inches
- Mr Ibu’s Height in Centimeters: 165 cm
- Weight: 130lbs (69Kg)
- Mr Ibu’s Net Worth: $3.5 million
- Best Known Work: Mr Ibu (2004)
What Happened To Mr Ibu?
Mr Ibu is recently bedridden as he's suffering from a significant sickness. The actor is at a private health facility in Lagos State and has publicly solicited financial improve and prayers in order that he can get better.
Mr Ibu has had a chain of well being demanding situations in the previous. He has accused his townspeople of poisoning him two times back in 2022, which brought about him to be critically in poor health. He has additionally accused his kin of conniving with his domestic workforce to poison him.
Mr Ibu is 63 Years Old in 2023, and Hails from Nkanu West L.G.A of Enugu State
Born on October 17, 1960, John Ikechukwu Okafor is an Igbo actor who hails from Umunekwu Village in Eziokwe, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, South-East Nigeria. However, after his primary training and the surprising demise of his father, he relocated to Sapele, a town in Delta State, the place he stayed with his brother.
While there isn't a lot details about Mr Ibu’s circle of relatives, particularly referring to his siblings, the 63-year-old veteran actor printed that he hails from a very poor family of eight. His mother died on the age of 91, whilst he lost his father at an early age.
Mr Ibu Is a College Drop-Out
Despite his rough early life, Mr Ibu used to be all the time decided to re-write his tale, now not minding how much hard work it will take. Leaving his native land to Delta State at the age of 14, young John Okafor discovered his older brother used to be no longer doing so smartly financially. However, he won admission at a technical faculty where he could entire his secondary education and download his West African Senior School Certificate earlier than doing a number of menial jobs to maintain himself.
Upon completing his secondary training, John Okafor left Sapele for a the city in Adamawa State, which on the time it was once still known as Gongola State. There, he got admitted into the College of Education, Yola, although he was no longer there for a long time. He did a number of menial jobs to peer himself via school, including running as a hairstylist and photographer, however he was later forced to leave the institution due to monetary challenges.
Mr Ibu went back to Enugu State, where his choice to further his training noticed him acquire admission at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu State, for a degree in Mass Communication. Even whilst he was once there, he still had to work in a crating company and as a fridge repairer to stay himself in college. He finally made up our minds to surrender school because it turned into more difficult for him to keep himself in college and at the same time give a boost to his other siblings.
He returned to Delta State once more, and then Lagos, the place he got the chance to pursue his occupation and establish himself as an actor. Even regardless that the actor was once not lucky to bag any stage from any tertiary Institution, This comic actor received some educational experience.
Here is a listing of all of the establishments he attended.
- Nursery and number one faculty in Nkanu West, Enugu State
- Technical secondary school, Sapele, Delta State
- College of Education Yola, then Gongola State
- Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu State
He Discovered His Acting Prowess Quite Early
Mr Ibu’s childhood and circle of relatives misfortune have been somewhat challenging, more like a Nollywood movie script. Still, he in the end overcame them all to be one of the vital sought-after professionals in the movie business. While he was nonetheless in basic college, his classmates and lecturers enjoyed his comic acts, however young Mr Ibu never thought to be comedy or performing as a profession he would try his hands on in the longer term.
However, prior to in the end settling for the entertainment trade in the Seventies, John Okafor tried doing a number of jobs, including working in a Sawdust mill, a Slaughterhouse, and Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS). He even thought to be a career in boxing and had taken phase in a boxing championship festival, however after enticing in a combat that virtually value him his existence, he decided by no means to go back to the hoop again.
John Okafor Started Acting at the age of 17 in 1978
Relocating to Lagos State, Nigeria, John Okafor made his approach into the Nigerian film trade but labored in the back of the scene for several years before getting a role in the ABS TV Series Ogbu Anyanwu and Kwere Kira. These turned into the jobs that spurred his hobby in turning into an actor.
In December 1978, he in spite of everything made up our minds to start a profession in appearing via making a cameo appearance in the TV series Hotel De Jordan. He took his next role in 1997 when he was known as to play an imbecile in Alex Ezeamakwu’s movie, Agony. Although he used to be no longer to begin with interested in enjoying comedian roles, Nkem Owoh and Sam Loco Efe, who are a number of the pioneers of comedy in Nollywood, impressed him to further discover his present as a comic.
John Okafor’s adventure to the limelight started when he got what he considers his first film in Nollywood, Rolling Stone, which used to be shot in Anambra State. His walk to popularity eventually came via in 2004, when he featured in a Nollywood blockbuster film, Mr Ibu, which now earned him the moniker. However, he claimed to have inherited the identify from his grandfather, whom he said used to be called Ibu, as he used to be funny and a great actor. The film, Mr Ibu, written and directed by way of Andy Chukwu, had Okafor starring with every other nice comic actor Osita Iheme, popularly referred to as Paw-paw. Since then, the veteran actor has seemed in over two hundred motion pictures, together with
Year Released | Movie |
---|---|
2020 | The Album |
2018 | The Eve |
2017 | Mr Ibu in Liberia |
2017 | London Fever |
2017 | Price of Deceit |
2015 | Honeymoon Guys 2 |
2015 | Honeymoon Guys |
2014 | Chibundu |
2014 | Love Wahala |
2013 | Oga Abuja |
2013 | Ibu in Sierra Leone |
2013 | Gold in Fire |
2013 | Return of Sherikoko |
2011 | Secret Past |
2011 | Open & Close |
2011 | Open & Close 2 |
2010 | Sherikoko |
2010 | Most Wanted Kidnappers |
2010 | Most Wanted Kidnappers 2 |
2004 | Dollars from Germany |
2003 | Police Recruit |
2003 | Naomi |
2003 | Nicodemus |
2003 | Victim of Love |
2003 | Civil War |
2003 | Fresh Pain 2 |
2003 | Informant |
2003 | Bullet |
2003 | Ngozi: Abeg Marry Us |
2003 | Fresh Pain |
2003 | Bullet 2 |
2000 | Vuga 2 |
More John Okafor’s Movies with Year Released
Year | Movie Title |
---|---|
2009 | Yahoozee Prophets 2 |
2009 | Yahoozee Prophets |
2008 | Mental Case |
2008 | The Tusk of Life 2 |
2008 | Mental Case 2 |
2008 | The Tusk of Life |
2007 | Desperate Search |
2007 | Desperate Search 2 |
2007 | Basket Mouth |
2007 | Bafana Bafana |
2007 | Keziah 2 |
2007 | How Far? 2 |
2007 | Keziah |
2007 | How Far? |
2007 | Basket Mouth 2 |
2007 | Toronto Connection 2 |
2007 | Toronto Connection |
2007 | Bafana Bafana 2 |
2006 | A Fool at 40 |
2006 | Captain 2 |
2006 | The Journalist 2 |
2006 | Four Forty |
2006 | Sweet Mama |
2006 | Dear Mama |
2006 | Over Heat |
2006 | The Return of Mama-G |
2006 | Store Keeper |
2006 | Men on the Run |
2006 | Final Surrender 2 |
2006 | Brain Wash 2 |
2006 | Chelsea/Liverpool |
John Okafor has mentored many upcoming actors in the trade and has been accountable for the good fortune of one of the crucial giant names in Nollywood lately. He mentored Jim Iyke, who got here as much as him on the scene of Vuga and showed pastime in the trade. He walked him thru and put him in eleven scenes, and today, Jim Iyke is a family identify. Georgina Onuoha was once also came upon at the set of Woman, a movie he was once running on, and she still will pay homage to him.
How John Okafor’s Net Worth of $3.5 Million Accrued
Mr Ibu were given his first respectable film function in Rolling Stone, with a pay of an insignificant N5,000, which is a far cry from the six-figure sums he rakes in lately along with his films. His luck in the movie industry has won him more wealth that he is indexed some of the richest actors in the business. Not most effective that, he has been able to gracefully in finding his approach into various other fields in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Here are the more than a few areas the veteran actor earns his money.
He is without doubt one of the Richest Actors or Comedians in Nigeria
Comedy in Nigeria has so much developed that it is now one of the most platforms that have birthed one of the most richest comedians throughout Africa. While Mr Ibu is yet to join the checklist of richest standup comedians, his roles as a comic actor have earned him an enormous source of revenue. The veteran actor is yet to expose his exact source of revenue per movie role he receives. It is believed that whilst upcoming Nollywood actors/actresses earn up to ₦100,000 to ₦500,000 according to movie role, a veteran actor like him is paid much upper.
Osita Iheme, who is largely considered a veteran actor like him, is estimated to make about N500,000 and above in every film look, which is not so dangerous for any person who repeatedly receives movie roles. . Aside from acting, John Okafor also earns additional source of revenue as a scriptwriter and manufacturer.
He is a Successful Businessman
Business may be every other main space from where he makes his money. Mr Ibu, who all the time describes himself as an idiot and anyone with out sense, made it identified that he's into different businesses. However, he has nonetheless managed to keep all his businesses away from the public domain. Meanwhile, a media report has it that John Okafor, amongst different businesses he is concerned in, may be into the rental of movie cameras and other apparatus, which he started sometime in 2010. He even owned a resort called Ecowas, which he ran prior to his initial films turned into bestsellers.
Mr Ibu may be A singer and Skilled Dancer
The funny actor is likely one of the few Nigerian film actors who've once ventured into the song trade and had even released three trending songs; “The Girl,” “Do You Know,” and “Annoyed Annoyed.” The songs in which he featured every other comedian, Dede One day, are contained in his debut album, ‘This Girl.’ In his hit observe, ‘Annoyed,’ Mr Ibu criticized the Nigerian executive for not providing a quality lifestyles for the citizenry. While his observe, Dis Girl, portrays girls who manipulate males and cheat them of their hard earned money.
The comical antics of the humorous actor have also long gone from the movie scenes into probably the most music videos he has featured in. He seemed on Flavour’s tune, Ada Ada, the place his dancing antics moved his ‘spouse’ to pull him off the dance flooring.
Other abilities that he does have, however, come with hairdressing and styling. This was one of the odd jobs that he did to get via in his early life, and he it sounds as if got so good at it that his consumers turned into so reliant on him that they might wait if they did not to find him provide at the salon.
He Also Earns Money from Endorsements
Mr Ibu is likely one of the few actors in Nigeria who've made such a lot money from signing endorsement offers. The actor, in 2014, signed a deal with one in all Nigeria’s largest game making a bet websites, Merrybet Gold Limited. Although he declined to reveal the worth of the deal, he debunked the rumor that the corporate was paying him N100 million for the endorsement. He stated the quantity discussed used to be not for him however for individuals who participated and gained in the corporate’s promo. However, sources just about him mentioned he was paid between N7 million and N10 million.
In June 2014, John Okafor became the brand new Brand Ambassador for GOtv in Nigeria after signing a maintain GOtv, virtual terrestrial pay-TV. He was once paid handsomely to function in GOtv’s ads, make particular visitor appearances at GOtv launch events and promote the emblem amongst GOtv’s grassroots target audience, amongst different actions.
Nigeria’s third Telecom giant, Glo, is every other corporate the veteran actor is enjoying a massive endorsement deal with as he is one of the 28 celebrities who have been signed to the company in 2015. One of his newest deals was signed in 2016 and with Kingdom Lottery. He was unveiled via the kind having a bet corporate as its ambassador, along with his position centering on using the company’s Scratch and Win Lottery.
List of known endorsement offers of John Okafor include:
- GOtv (multichoice)
- MerryBet Gold Limited,
- Glo
- Kingdom Lottery
Notable Awards And Recognition Mr Ibu Has Received So Far
John Okafor has gained the following awards in his profession
- 2005 Best Comic Actor at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards
- Africa Movie Academy Awards – Best Actor In Leading Role in 2008
- Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) – Best Actor in Comedy (2010)
- Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) (2011)
- Africa Movie Academy Awards – Best Comic Actor In Nigeria (2011)
- Best Movie Actor of the Year, Peace Ambassadors of Nigeria, 2014
- Best Comedian by means of the Governor of Enugu State.
- Award of Excellence by way of Magic Lens Africa Film Academy in 2016.
Controversies Involving John Okafor
Like many other celebrities, John Okafor has been involved in a chain of controversies, some of that are related together with his thoughts on his profession, the Nollywood industry, and politics. But in spite of massive grievance, the actor seems concerned with his occupation and persona. Here are probably the most controversies the actor has been related with.
He used to be Involved In A Sex Scandal
Mr Ibu was purported to have had a one-night stand with a girl identified as Igwe Gloria. In a social media put up, the woman claimed that the actor paid her to sleep with him. While narrating her revel in with the actor, she described him as a peaceful, sweet, and pretty person who, like a few different celebrities, made her really feel at the best of the sector whilst it lasted.
Meanwhile, Mr Ibu reacted to the intercourse allegations in a telephone interview with a popular newspaper, admitted to having posed for a photoshoot with the fan in query but never had any sexual courting with her. To put the case to leisure, the actor described the girl’s offensive commentary as the handiwork of unknown enemies who had been making plans to tarnish his symbol.
His Money-For-Role Allegation In Nollywood
The comedian actor attracted fairly controversial consideration when he claimed that younger actors trying to enter the Nigerian movie business not get themselves concerned in Sex-for -roles. Instead, they pay massive money to get movie roles. Speaking further in the interview, the actor, who's a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria Board of Trustees, recommended upcoming actors to desist from using their hard earned cash to shop for roles. Instead, they will have to take things easy, loosen up and learn how to be in a movie manufacturing simplest by way of merit. When auditions don’t desire you, he mentioned, go home and try again yet again.
His Political Views
Aside from gaining much reputation for his laudable comedian acts, Mr Ibu is also known for voicing out his thought on political problems, particularly in regards to the affects of some of the political selections on unusual Nigerian citizens. However, ahead of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria, Mr Ibu and some fashionable Nollywood stars stirred the anger of many Nigerians when a video made the rounds where they have been observed endorsing the All People’s Congress (APC) national chief Bola Tinubu for the seat of government.
While the video stirred up remarks on how politicians leverage the fame of comedians to advance their campaigns, John Okafor was once, in turn, lashed for endorsing Tinubu, who many are of the opinion would now not make a good chief for the country, especially as he is part of the “battered” Buhari’s management.
It did not take the actor too lengthy prior to he determined to make a U-Turn and declare reinforce for the previous Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who, consistent with him, has been like a father to him. Mr Ibu’s surprising decision did not cross down with lots of his fans, especially from the South East, since the presidency was meant to move to the south since the present president hails from the North.
Who is John Okafor’s Wife?
John Okafor’s wife is Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor. She is a local of Mbaise, Imo State. She is an unusual chef as well as an actress. John Okafor and his wife began relationship around 1998. They were given married in a standard ceremony in 2010 and had their white wedding ceremony ceremony in 2015.
The couple have welcomed five children in combination, and the marriage is the actor’s 2d after his union along with his first wife ended in divorce. John Okafor has lavished phrases of praise on his wife, however in fresh occasions, they have got had some publicized disputes.
Does Mr Ibu Have Children?
Mr Ibu has 13 children: Eleven sons (one of whom is deceased) and two daughters. Five of the children are from his 2d marriage to Stella Maris, whilst four are from his first spouse. The other 4 are from ladies that he dated in between splitting from his first spouse and marrying his 2nd wife. The actor also has an adopted daughter named Jasmine.
Amongst Mr Ibu’s kids are Val Okafor and Daniel Okafor. The actor works hard to offer for his youngsters. Some of them are also grown adults and are actually running and are married themselves.
FAQs
Who is Mr Ibu?
Mr Ibu is a well-liked Nigerian actor and comic who has featured in several films. His actual name is John Okafor.
How Old is Mr Ibu?
Mr Ibu is Sixty three years outdated in 2023. He was once born at the 17th of October 1960 and is a local of Umunekwu Village in Eziokwe, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
What is Mr Ibu Suffering From?
Mr. Ibu is suffering from a major sickness that may require his legs to be amputated consistent with the latest update that he gave in October 2023.
Are Mr Ibu and John Okafor The Same?
Mr Ibu and John Okafor are one and the same. Mr Ibu is John Okafor’s stage name and alter ego who gets up to ridiculous antics in a number of films.
How Many Kids Does John Okafor Have?
John Okafor has 13 biological kids and an followed daughter named Jasmine Okafor. Unfortunately, certainly one of his biological children, a two-year-old son, died in 2012 in the sanatorium.
What is Mr Ibu’s Net Worth?
Mr Ibu’s net worth is $3.5 million, and he made his cash from his appearing and production profession, his businesses, and endorsement deals with the likes of Globacom, Merrybet Gold Ltd, and GOtv.
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