Atinuke Remilekun Kareem has died after battling breast cancer, making her the third Nollywood actor or actress to die following a cancer battle in 2026. The Ogun State chapter of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) confirmed her death on Tuesday, September 1.
TAMPAN’s Executive Governor, Owolabi Ajasa, announced the loss and described it as painful for her family, colleagues, and the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Before her death, Kareem had gone public with an appeal for financial help to continue her treatment. In a video shared during her illness, she said she had already spent a significant amount of money on treatment and that colleagues within TAMPAN had supported her. She also revealed she had two young children and asked Nigerians to support her as she fought the disease.
TAMPAN Ogun State said colleagues, fans, friends, and well-wishers contributed money and offered prayers and encouragement during her treatment. She died despite those efforts.
Her death lands less than two weeks after veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, known as Ogogo, died on August 23 at age 66. Ogogo, an actor, filmmaker, and screenwriter with more than four decades in the industry, had been battling stage-four cancer. His family made the diagnosis public, though they did not disclose the specific type of cancer.
Earlier in the year, Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo died in May at age 40. His family later confirmed he died from complications arising from advanced metastatic kidney cancer. He was laid to rest in Abia State in June.
Kareem’s death means the three documented cancer-related deaths among Nollywood actors and actresses in 2026 are Ekubo, Ogogo, and Kareem.
The deaths have pulled attention back to the health challenges people in Nigeria face, especially the financial weight of cancer treatment. Kareem’s own public appeal showed how expensive prolonged cancer care can become. Ogogo’s family also publicly sought help while he was ill.
The recent run of cancer diagnoses and deaths within Nollywood has raised concerns about the disease among aging industry veterans. After Ogogo’s passing, fellow actor Musiliu Dasofunjo, known as Baba Johunomi, publicly revealed his own struggle with prostate cancer. He said "cancer is now on the rise" and shared his story to push awareness about recognizing early warning signs.
Kareem’s public appeal for funds and TAMPAN’s announcement establish her death as another cancer-related loss for Nollywood, following Ekubo and Ogogo earlier in the year.
According to Pulse.ng.
