The quiet town of Uwala Abaka, Ukehe, in Nsukka, Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, was engulfed in grief as the community gathered to bid farewell to actor John Odonwodo, affectionately known as the Young Pope.
The funeral service begins at 10 a.m. with mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, Ukehe. After the mass, his body was buried in his father’s compound, where family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers paid their last respects. The atmosphere was filled with emotion as attendees got to see the beloved actor one last time before his body was moved to a private location for burial at around 1:30 p.m.
The ceremony was marked by profound grief. Junior Pope’s wife, Jennifer Awele, was seen crying uncontrollably during the final funeral. Her first son, in an attempt to comfort his mother, also burst into tears, highlighting the family’s deep sense of loss.
Despite the significant turnout, the absence of several notable actors, including members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), was noticed by those in attendance and comment.
Junior Pope, 43, tragically died on April 10, along with four others, when their boat capsized on the Anam River in Anambra State while returning from a movie shoot.
Veteran actress Rita Edochie has expressed her heartbreak over the untimely death of Junior Pope, reflecting the sentiments of many who attended the funeral to commemorate his memory and legacy in the Nigerian film industry.
