Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Edge, on Wednesday, January 7, lost one of their twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi.
Omawumi Ogbe, via a statement issued on Thursday on behalf of the family, disclosed that the 21-month-old baby passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after a brief illness.
According to Ogbe, the family is devastated by the loss and requested that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.
The statement reads,
“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 Wednesday, the 7th of January 2026, after a brief illness. He was 21 months old.
The family is devastated by this profound loss, and we request that their privacy be respected during this incredibly difficult time.
“We ask for your grace and prayers as they mourn in private.“No further statements will be made, and we thank the public and the media for respecting their need for seclusion during this period of immense grief.”
However, many prominent Nigerians like Peter Obi have commiserated with the Nigerian-born author, showering her family with prayers for the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
President Bola Tinubu also condoled with the internationally acclaimed author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, and their family over the death of their son, Nkanu Nnamdi Esege.
In a statement personally signed on Thursday, the president described the loss of a child as one of the most devastating experiences any parent can endure.
“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,” Tinubu said.
“As a parent myself who has suffered the loss of a loved one, no grief is as devastating as losing a child. I empathize with the family at this difficult time, and I mourn this sad loss with them.”
The president noted that Adichie is a global literary icon whose works have brought inspiration, joy, and enlightenment to many across the world.
“I pray that she and her family find strength and comfort in the Almighty during this trying moment. My prayers are with the family,” the president added.
12 things you probably didn’t know about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the famous Nigerian author who lost a kid born through surrogacy
She was born on September 15, 1977, in Enugu, Nigeria
She was raised in Nsukka, Nigeria, by her parents, James Nwoye Adichie and Grace Ifeoma
Her parents were staff of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
She studied medicine at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
However, she abandoned medicine after moving to the United States and adopted English literature and language at Eastern Connecticut State University, Johns Hopkins University, and Yale University
She authored popular novels like “Purple Hibiscus” (2003), “Half of a Yellow Sun” (2006), and “Americanah” (2013)
Her TED Talks, “The Danger of a Single Story” and “We Should All Be Feminists,” went viral and became favourite of many
She has received numerous awards, including the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, the Orange Prize, and the MacArthur Fellowship
Her notable works include “The Thing Around Your Neck” (2009), “We Should All Be Feminists” (2014), and “Notes on Grief” (2021)
She is married to Dr. Ivara Esege
She has three children; a daughter born in 2016 and twin boys born in 2024 via surrogacy
She is globally respected for her literary works and advocacy