Nigerian Actor Keppy Ekpenyong Bounces Back After Health Scare

When work became overwhelming in 2022, veteran Nigerian actor Keppy Ekpenyong paid the ultimate price: his health crashed so hard he slipped into a diabetic coma for two days.

The beloved actor, known for his decades-long career in Nollywood, opened up about the terrifying experience last Sunday at a special tribute held in his honor at Ojez Lounge in Lagos. He explained that months of back-to-back filming, poor sleep, and skipped meals caused his blood pressure to spike, triggering the medical emergency.

"I wasn't sleeping or eating well. So my blood pressure spiked and that triggered a diabetic coma," Ekpenyong told NollyNow. "But fortunately for me, I came out of it after two days."

The event itself carried a powerful message that resonated deeply with everyone in attendance. The Ojez Entertainment Forum organized the celebration under the theme "Celebrating the Living Rather Than the Dead," bringing together Nigerian film industry heavyweights including Segun Arinze, Femi Durojaiye, and officials from the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

Ekpenyong embraced the concept wholeheartedly. "There's no point celebrating a dead man," he said. "Once you're dead, you're dead. Nobody remembers you because you no longer count."

Why This Inspires

The tribute reveals something beautiful happening in Nigeria's entertainment industry: a shift toward honoring legends while they can still enjoy the love and recognition they deserve. Too often, we wait until someone passes to express how much they meant to us.

Longtime friend and fellow actor Femi Durojaiye, who knew Ekpenyong from their secondary school days, stood in as family at the event. "I'm celebrating my brother, my friend, my elder brother," he said, noting that since Ekpenyong's parents weren't there, he was the one who had known him longest.

The actor has since recovered and returned to work, this time with better self-care habits. His story serves as a wake-up call for creative professionals everywhere who push themselves too hard, and his industry's response shows the healing power of appreciation given at the right time.