Globally acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, have suffered the loss of one of their twin boys, Nkanu Nnamdi, who died on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after a brief illness. He was 21 months old.
The heartbreaking development was confirmed in a statement issued by Omawumi Ogbe, which described the family as devastated by the profound loss.
“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 after a brief illness,” the statement read.
The family appealed for privacy as they grieve, requesting prayers and understanding during what it described as an incredibly difficult period.
“No further statements will be made, and we thank the public and the media for respecting their need for seclusion during this time of immense grief,” the statement added.
