President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Nkanu Nnamdi, one of the twin sons of award-winning Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege.
In a condolence message issued on Thursday, the President extended his sympathies to the family, saying, “With a deep sense of grief, I condole with Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, and the entire family on the passing of their son, Nkanu Nnamdi.”
Describing the pain of the loss, Tinubu noted that no tragedy compares to losing a child. “As a parent myself who has suffered the loss of a loved one, no grief is as devastating as losing a child,” he said, adding, “I empathise with the family at this difficult time, and I mourn this sad loss with them.”
The President also paid tribute to Adichie’s global literary influence, describing her as “a literary icon who has brought joy and light to many homes globally,” and prayed for divine strength for the family. “I pray she and her family find strength in the Almighty in this trying hour. My prayers are with the family,” Tinubu added.
Meanwhile, the death was confirmed on Wednesday in a statement issued by Adichie’s Communications Team and signed by Omawumi Ogbe. The statement disclosed that Nkanu Nnamdi died on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, following a brief illness. He was 21 months old.
“We’re deeply saddened to confirm the passing of one of Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege’s twin boys, Nkanu Nnamdi,” the statement read. “He passed on Wednesday, 7th of January 2026, after a brief illness.”
The family described the loss as devastating and appealed for privacy as they grieve. “The family is devastated by this profound loss, and we request that their privacy be respected during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement said, while also asking for prayers and understanding from the public.
It added that no further statements would be issued, thanking the public and the media for respecting the family’s need for seclusion during what it described as a period of immense grief.