Sometimes, a seemingly ordinary moment can bring back memories a person would rather forget. For Lanre Afod, even the sight of a familiar drink can take him back to a time when his life hung in the balance.
The Nollywood actor recently opened up about the experience in an interview with actress Biola Bayo on her Talk to B show, sharing details of his health crisis, the difficult road to recovery and the people who stood by him.
‘You Are Dying’: The Doctor’s Chilling Words
Lanre Afod said he was left in tears when a doctor finally explained the seriousness of his condition. According to the actor, the doctor told him plainly, “Bro, let me tell you what is wrong with you. You are dying.” The words came as he learnt that his heart was no longer pumping blood as it should. The doctor reportedly used the example of a pumping machine to explain how the heart was struggling to move blood effectively around his body.
Afod said he broke down after hearing the diagnosis. The doctor, however, also told him that he was fortunate to have survived long enough to receive medical attention, explaining that his medical history suggested the problem might have started about six months earlier.
The actor described the period as one of the darkest moments of his life. He said he faced death twice and recalled experiences that made him feel as though he was being held down. At one point, he said, he woke up declaring, “I shall not die.”
He shared how he was initially treated in an emergency ward before being advised to move to a private facility. According to Afod, a doctor told him he would not recover properly in the environment where he was receiving care.
The diagnosis also forced him to confront the cost of staying alive. He explained that the treatment options discussed with him included a heart transplant, long-term medication or what he described as a miracle. He added that the financial demands of treatment were overwhelming.
The Energy Drink Habit He Believes Contributed to His Illness
Afod believes his heavy consumption of energy drinks contributed to his health crisis. The actor explained that his work as a film editor often required him to stay awake for long hours. When he became tired, he would reach for energy drinks to keep himself going. He said he sometimes drank them while reading, driving or working through the night. He also admitted to mixing large quantities with alcohol on some occasions.
During his treatment, he recalled that doctors initially questioned him about possible drug use after noticing indicators in his blood. He denied taking illegal drugs and said another doctor later asked more questions about his drinking habits.
Afod also remembered a warning from fellow actor Ricardo Agbor, who had cautioned him about energy drinks roughly a month before his illness began. Despite the warning, he continued his routine. Looking back, he believes the drinks played a significant role in what happened to him.
He was careful to say that he was not a doctor, but his experience has made him avoid energy drinks completely. He told Biola Bayo that he can even cross the street to avoid seeing one because it brings back memories of his ordeal.
His advice to people who work long hours is simply to rest when the body needs it. He encouraged people to sleep properly and take short naps, even if only for 10 to 15 minutes, when exhaustion sets in.
The Financial Burden of Fighting for His Life
Beyond the physical suffering, Afod described the financial pressure of his treatment. He said he consulted several heart specialists and that the cost of medical care left him struggling. To explain how difficult it was to meet the bills, he gave an example of someone who has ₦20 million but needs ₦22 million for treatment.
Having a large amount of money, he explained, does not necessarily mean a person can afford to stay alive when the medical bill is even higher. His family played a major role during that period. He appreciated his elder brother, actor Kunle Afod, his younger brother in the United Kingdom, his sister and other relatives for supporting him and helping to shield him from unwanted public attention while he was ill.
He also expressed gratitude to the medical workers who cared for him, including doctors associated with the Air Force Hospital in Lagos. He recalled the kindness shown to him, including help with meals and everyday needs when he was too weak to manage by himself.
Queen Ruby Sparkling Stood by Him When He Could Barely Walk
Afod singled out Queen Ruby Sparkling as one of the people who made a difference during his recovery. He said she was working with him on film productions when he became ill. Rather than replace him or proceed without him, she reportedly put their productions on hold until he was well enough to return.
According to Afod, she repeatedly told him that she would not move forward with the work until he was better. Even after he returned to directing, he was far from fully recovered. He recalled struggling to walk, breathing heavily and needing to sit down frequently. When he had to climb stairs, people sometimes carried him.
His legs also became swollen, forcing him to wear oversized trousers to conceal the changes in his body. He said he continued to experience swelling even after he began feeling better, and he did not want people to see photographs of him during that period. Afod said Ruby remained supportive while he struggled to regain his strength. He praised her for looking beyond the work they had planned and prioritising his health.
Desola Afod’s Promise to Pay for His Medication
After leaving the hospital in October 2025, Afod said another person stepped in to support his recovery: Desola Afod, whom he described as a ‘celebrity wife’, as she calls herself.
He explained that his doctors had advised him to rest and avoid working, but he worried about how he would survive financially if he could not earn a living.
Desola, he said, offered to take responsibility for his medication. Afod recalled her telling him that, as long as he continued to need the prescribed pills, she would buy them for him. He said she had kept that promise consistently since his discharge.
Although he acknowledged receiving some financial assistance from other people, he said Desola’s commitment to funding his medication had been particularly important because it was ongoing.
He praised her generosity, saying, “She has been so golden. She has a wonderful heart. She’s saving my heart.”
From Swollen Legs to a Reassuring Hospital Check-up
Afod said his condition gradually improved, although the recovery process was not immediate. He recalled going back to work before he had regained his strength fully, sometimes forcing himself through productions because he was concerned about his future. He said people around him had encouraged him to rest, but he struggled with the thought of being unable to earn money.
Eventually, however, he began to regain his independence. During the interview, he said he had returned to the hospital for further tests and received encouraging results. He recalled a doctor expressing surprise at his progress and suggesting that his case was unusual.
Afod said he could now walk, drive and carry out his normal activities again. He described himself as being “100% back to life,” while also confirming that he was still taking medication, although not as much as before.
His Career: From Church Drama to the Nigerian Film Industry
Away from his health battle, Afod also reflected on the journey that brought him into entertainment. He said his interest in performing began through church drama, where he acted alongside his siblings, including his elder brother, Kunle Afod. In one production based on the biblical story of King Nebuchadnezzar and the fiery furnace, Kunle played the king while Lanre was among the characters in the furnace.
Kunle later entered the entertainment industry and helped his younger brother find his own way into it. Afod said their mother was initially reluctant to see him pursue entertainment as a career. He developed a love for stage theatre and took part in productions that brought him opportunities to perform in countries including the United Kingdom and Egypt.
He said his movie career began around 1999 or 2000. However, rather than focus solely on acting, he spent considerable time working behind the scenes, including scriptwriting, production management and on projects associated with his brother.
Afod said he sometimes wondered whether he had spent too much time behind the scenes while younger actors were moving ahead. He had hoped to make a bigger mark in English-language films and cinema, but he eventually came to see his wide range of skills as an advantage.
He described himself as an all-round entertainer who can act, sing, dance, direct, edit and write music for films. He also said he had written more than 300 movie soundtracks and worked on music for other artists including Mayorkun.
His voice-over work has also included a JAMB advertisement featuring the phrase “enhancing academic excellence,” which he described as one of his best-paid jobs.
Why He Returned to Nigeria After Working in the UK
Afod also revisited a difficult period when he returned to Nigeria after spending time in the United Kingdom. He said his experience abroad was not as glamorous as some people might have imagined. At one point, he took jobs that involved cutting meat and fish in a cold environment, with his hands becoming painfully cold even when he wore gloves.
The experience made him reconsider his future. He eventually called his mother and told her he was coming back to Nigeria. He said some family members and people around him were unhappy with the decision. In his account, his return was viewed by some as a sign that he had failed abroad. People he had previously approached for help sometimes interpreted his requests differently after he came home.
Afod said his mother even wondered whether something spiritual had influenced his decision to return, but he insisted that he had thought carefully about it. He does not regret coming back. Rather, he sees the decision as part of the journey that shaped his life and career.
‘Guard Your Heart With All Diligence’
For Afod, surviving the health crisis has changed how he views everyday life. He urged people to protect their peace, forgive others and avoid allowing worry to take over their lives. Referring to the biblical instruction to guard the heart, he said people often spend time and money caring for their appearance without giving enough thought to their overall well-being.
He also encouraged people not to let financial pressure consume them. If a phone call about a debt is likely to overwhelm someone emotionally, he suggested waiting until they feel able to handle the conversation rather than responding in a distressed state.
His message was not that people should ignore their responsibilities, but that they should also pay attention to their well-being while dealing with life’s challenges.
Reflecting on the people he met in the hospital, including patients who died despite being loved and prayed for, he said life could bring both good and bad days. He believes people should remain grateful for what they have and hope for better days ahead.
What He Would Do as Nigerian President for One Week
Asked what he would do if he became Nigeria’s president for one week, Afod said he would first seek to stop the production of energy drinks in the country, if possible.
He would also promote exercise and rest, drawing on his observations from visits to Togo, where he said he often saw people jogging on Sundays.
His third priority would be creating more jobs. He argued that when people have better employment opportunities and can earn enough to save, they are more likely to plan holidays and take time off work.
He believes the pressure to make money often leaves people working through periods meant for rest, with little opportunity to recharge.
Lanre Afod Is Single and Ready to Work Again
During the interview, Afod confirmed that he had been married before but is no longer married. He also made it clear that he is open to new work opportunities. He said people can approach him to discuss projects because his skills extend beyond acting to music, soundtracks, scriptwriting, editing, directing and production.
He thanked his family, colleagues, producers, trainees, fans and the people who helped him through his illness. He also mentioned the young man named Peter who reportedly stayed with him for three months and helped with his daily needs, including taking him to the restroom and bathing him. The experience, he said, made him appreciate people whose support may not always receive public attention.
A Second Chance at Life
Lanre Afod’s account is not only about a health crisis. It is also about the uncertainty of life, the cost of treatment and the people who remain present when someone can no longer do everything for themselves.
For an entertainer who once relied on energy drinks to push through long hours, the experience has given rest a different meaning. His closing message is one he hopes others will take seriously: protect your peace, value the people who stand by you and do not take your health for granted.
