Lilian Esoro mourns her father, Ferdinand Collins Esoro, weeks after losing a close friend, describing the grief as heart-wrenching

Nollywood actress and entrepreneur Lilian Esoro announced the sudden death of her father, Ferdinand Collins Esoro, on Sunday, August 23, 2026, revealing that the loss has left her facing another painful period of grief just weeks after the death of a close friend.

Also read: Funke Akindele Under Fire for Celebrating Birthday on Ogogo’s Burial Day

Esoro described her father as an integral part of her life and the person who led her to Christ.

His death is particularly significant for the actress because she had previously lost her mother, Julie, in 2021, leaving her father as her only living parent at the time of his death.

“A man who was an integral part of my life, the man who led me to Christ, my only living parent, My Dad, passed away suddenly,” Esoro wrote in an emotional social media tribute.

The announcement came only weeks after Esoro had been mourning the death of a close friend.

The successive losses appear to have made an already difficult period considerably harder for the actress.

“A few weeks ago, just as I was gearing up to take a breather from the rude shock of the passing of my dear friend, my life took another unexpected turn,” she wrote.

Esoro said her father’s death left her feeling as though grief had abruptly interrupted her life once again.

“Once again, I was stopped in my tracks by the cold, wild wind of grief,” she said.

Rather than withdrawing completely, the actress said she had attempted to keep herself occupied with social activities, work and event planning.

But the distractions have not removed the pain.

“Since his passing, I have tried to bury myself in social activities, working and planning events to keep my mind and soul busy. But the truth is, nothing feels quite the same,” Esoro said.

Her description of grief was strikingly candid. Esoro acknowledged that mourning does not necessarily follow a predictable pattern, with periods of relative happiness sometimes giving way unexpectedly to intense sadness.

“This kind of grief is different. It is heart-wrenching and almost impossible to explain,” she wrote. “Some days, I am genuinely happy. Other days, a wave of sadness hits me so suddenly and so deeply that I almost don’t know what to do with it or how to react.”

The loss also carries a strong spiritual dimension for Esoro. In a 2025 tribute marking her father’s 80th birthday, Esoro described Ferdinand Collins Esoro as a leader and a lover of Christ, while thanking him for teaching her patience, the Bible and prayer. She also credited him with leading her to Christ.

That earlier tribute provides a poignant context to her latest announcement. Esoro’s relationship with her father was not simply that of a daughter and parent.

Her own account portrays him as a central influence on her faith and personal development.

Despite the depth of her grief, Esoro said her Christian faith remains an important source of strength.

“Through it all, I’ll say… it is well with my soul. God is still God! With him there is no controversy,” she wrote.

She also thanked relatives, friends and well-wishers who have supported her through the difficult period with prayers, love and encouragement.

The announcement has prompted an outpouring of sympathy from members of the Nigerian entertainment community.

Actress Nancy Isime offered her support, while Shafii Bello, Chioma Akpotha and Uzor Arukwe were among those reported to have expressed condolences.

The circumstances surrounding Ferdinand Collins Esoro’s sudden death have not been disclosed, and Esoro has not announced burial arrangements publicly.

Esoro has maintained a presence in Nollywood while also building a career in business.

She has continued to balance her professional life with family responsibilities, including raising her son, Jayden, whom she shares with media personality Ubi Franklin.

For Esoro, however, the immediate story is less about public life than about loss.

Having celebrated her father’s 80th birthday with a tribute filled with gratitude only last year, she is now confronting the absence of the man she described as her guide in faith and her only surviving parent.

Her words suggest a grief that cannot easily be concealed by work, social commitments or the demands of everyday life.

Also read: Funke Akindele Under Fire for Celebrating Birthday on Ogogo’s Burial Day

For now, Esoro appears to be taking comfort in the memories, relationships and faith her father left behind as she navigates another profoundly difficult chapter.