President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have joined Nigerians in mourning the death of Nkanu Nnamdi, the infant son of acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege.
The family confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday by Omawumi Ogbe that Nkanu, one of their twin boys, died on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after a brief illness. He was 21 months old. The statement described the loss as devastating and appealed for privacy as the family grieves.
“We’re deeply saddened to confirm the passing of one of Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege’s twin boys, Nkanu Nnamdi, who passed on Wednesday, the 7th of January 2026, after a brief illness,” the statement said.
“The family is devastated by this profound loss, and we request that their privacy be respected during this incredibly difficult time.”
Reacting to the news, President Tinubu described the death as a deeply painful experience, noting that the loss of a child is incomparable. “As a parent myself who has suffered the loss of a loved one, no grief is as devastating as losing a child,” the President said, offering prayers and solidarity with the bereaved family.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also expressed his condolences in a statement issued by his spokesman, Paul Ibe. “My heart goes out to Chimamanda Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, on the loss of their son. There can be no loss like the loss of a child,” he said.
Atiku added that his thoughts and prayers were with the Adichie and Esege families, urging God to grant them “strength, peace, and solace” as they mourn.
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