By Fasuyi Tolulope Samuel
Renowned Nollywood actor and University of Port Harcourt lecturer, Columbus Irisoanga, widely recognized for his role as ‘Igbudu’ in the 2003 film “Issakaba,” has passed away.
The news was shared by fellow veteran actress and politician, Hilda Dokubo, via an Instagram post.Dokubo expressed the profound impact of Irisoanga’s death on the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and the Nollywood community, stating,
“There can’t be shortage of Angels in heaven that the few here are called home like this na! This one is heavy on Uniport Rivers state Nollywood.”
Irisoanga’s passing comes shortly after the death of 35-year-old Nollywood actress Pat Ugwu.
About Columbus Irisoanga
Columbus Irisoanga was a distinguished Nigerian actor and academic, hailing from Okrika in Rivers State. He earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt, where he served as a senior lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts.
He began his acting career in the early 1980s, featuring in various Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) soap operas and participating in numerous stage plays with the Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture.
Irisoanga gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of ‘Igbudu,’ a powerful chief priest, in the Nollywood blockbuster “Issakaba.”
His filmography includes over 150 movies, such as “7 Kilometre,” “Wickedness Uncovered,” “Elders at War,” and “Royal Reward.”
Throughout his career, Irisoanga received several accolades, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards and Best Actor in Drama at the City People Entertainment Awards.
Beyond acting, he was an advocate for leveraging tourism as an economic booster in Rivers State. In January 2024, he highlighted the importance of security in harnessing tourism potentials in Andoni Local Government Area, emphasizing that sustained peace would attract tourists and investors to the region.
Irisoanga’s contributions to Nigerian cinema and his community have left an indelible mark, and he will be deeply missed by colleagues, students, and fans alike.
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