Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have expressed deep sorrow over the death of Nkanu Nnamdi, the 21-month-old son of renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Omawumi Ogbe on behalf of the family, the toddler passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after a brief illness. The family described the loss as devastating and appealed to the public to respect their privacy during the difficult period.
However, in a personal condolence message released on Thursday, President Tinubu described the death as heartbreaking, saying no pain compares to the loss of a child. “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.
The President empathised deeply with Adichie and her family, noting that Nigeria was mourning with them. He also acknowledged Adichie’s global literary impact, describing her as a literary icon whose works have brought joy and inspiration to readers around the world.He prayed that God would grant the family strength and comfort to bear the painful loss.
Similarly, former Vice President and presidential candidate in 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, 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,” Atiku said.
He added that his thoughts and prayers were with the Adichie and Esege families, asking God to grant them strength, peace, and solace during their time of mourning.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated contemporary writers, known globally for acclaimed novels such as Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and Purple Hibiscus, and has won numerous international literary awards.
