Before fame, red carpets, and magazine covers, Alexx Ekubo was just a boy from a Christian family of six. Alex Ikenna Ekubo Okwaraeke was born on April 10, 1986, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with roots in Arochukwu, Abia State.
His childhood moved across Nigeria. He started at K. Kotun Nursery and Primary School in Lagos, then attended Federal Government College, Daura in Katsina. That mix of southern and northern Nigeria exposed him early to different languages and cultures. By adulthood, he was fluent in Igbo, Hausa, and English, with enough Yoruba to get by.
Academically, he earned a Diploma in Mass Communication from Calabar Polytechnic, graduated with a Law degree from the University of Calabar in 2008, and in 2021 received an Honorary Doctorate in Arts and Culture from ISCG University in Cotonou. 
His Parents: The Foundation
Alexx’s father, Mazi Alex Oji Ekubo Okwaraeke, hailed from Arochukwu, and his mother, Mrs. Jane Ekubo Okwaraeke, was an Evangelist. She raised her four children in a home where faith wasn’t just preached but was lived.
Alex often spoke about his parents with warmth. His mother appeared frequently in his posts, during birthdays, celebrations, and quiet family moments, showing a son who never forgot where he came from. He was the second of four children.
His Siblings
Alex had three siblings: an elder sister, Chioma; a younger sister, Amarachi; and a younger brother, Michael. Raised with discipline and faith, they stayed close into adulthood. Alex regularly brought them into the spotlight for birthdays and events, and they supported him just as openly in return.
The Career That Made Him a Household Name
Alex began modeling in 2005 and spent five years working with major Nigerian brands before competing in Mr. Nigeria 2010, where he finished as the first runner-up. Though Kenneth Okolie won the crown, Alex gained visibility that would shape his future.
He had already acted as a teen in Sinners in the House (2003), but his breakout role came with Weekend Getaway in 2012. Yemi Alade’s “Johnny” music video then made his face familiar across Nigeria. Over the next decade, he starred in more than 70 films and series, including Tinsel and AY’s Crib. His performance in Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story (2023) earned him an AMVCA 2024 nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
SEE ALSO: 5 Nigerian Celebrities Who Died After Battling Cancer
Fancy Acholonu: The Love Story That Became Nigeria’s Business
The most public chapter of his personal life began when he proposed to model and actress Fancy Acholonu on May 10, 2021. The announcement sparked nationwide excitement, with their traditional and white weddings planned for November 20 and 27.
But neither took place. In August 2021, Fancy ended the engagement in an Instagram post, saying she needed to walk away for her peace. Alex responded with a gracious statement, wishing her well.
The split fueled months of online speculation, especially after Fancy’s later comments about intimacy during their courtship. It also revived rumors about Alexx’s sexuality, which he addressed in 2019: “Personally, I’m not gay, have never been, and will never be. Let’s allow people to be free and comfortable with their sexual preference.”
SEE ALSO: Did Alexx Ekubo Secretly Marry Anwuli Amakom?
The Rumored Wife and Child
In 2026, whispers began that Alex had quietly married and kept the relationship private. After his death on May 11, 2026, the speculation grew. Grace Makun referenced a secret marriage in a tribute, saying only a few knew because he chose to protect it.
The name linked to him was Anwuli Amakom. During his Service of Songs on June 10, 2026, a speaker identified as Anwuli’s sister described a loving relationship and said her family had welcomed him. At that same event, a woman believed to be Anwuli wore a face mask.
Actress Uche Jombo added to the narrative in a now-deleted tweet: “A husband who has been through public scrutiny kept his wife private to protect her. None of his close friends ever shared her picture. She wore a face mask to his Service of Songs. Yet somehow the privacy message didn’t register to bloggers. Woke up today to her videos and pictures all over my TL as breaking news,” she wrote. There are also unconfirmed reports that Anwuli is pregnant with his child.
The family hasn’t confirmed anything publicly. What’s clear is that after Fancy, Alex chose privacy, and those closest to him honored that choice until the end.
About The Author
