Dr. Ali Nuhu, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), has expressed his sadness upon being notified of the passage of late Francis Duru, one of Nigeria’s impactful Nollywood actors and film stakeholder, which occurred yesterday October 22, 2026.

“Aside his family, this is another great loss to Nigeria’s film industry”, Dr. Nuhu said in a statement issued by NCF Director, Public Affairs, Brian Etuk.

He described late Francis Duru as one among several Nigerian film stakeholders which emerging filmmakers could easily identify with as a storyteller, a teacher and a mentor. He loved the art; he was a thespian with a difference and loved sharing his acting career experiences either as a speaker, an anchor and or as a discussant across the various film industry leaning platforms, universities and institutions, including the residency programme of the National Film Institute (NFI), Jos; specifically designed for short and intensive film production projects.

Beyond the deep and irreparable loss that his death will have on family members, relatives, friends, “we will continue to remember and reference him for his lofty contributions to the growth and development of our film industry. He was indeed a resource and screen star, but sadly, cut down by death. Late Francis Duru, an active member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Secretary – Creative Media Sector Skills Council (CMSSC); who turned 57 on July 27, 2026, will also be remembered for the decades of his acting roles in many hit movies such as Rattlesnake (1995), Igodo, Living in Bondage (1992), Eagles Wings (2021); and for winning the prestigious United Nations Ambassador of Peace in the year 2007, among several other awards before and thereafter,” Dr. Nuhu said.

He, on behalf of himself, Management and staff of the NFC, expressed his “deepest sympathy to the family as well as Nigerian film stakeholders, on this irreparable loss, and prays that God grants the soul of Francis Duru, a peaceful rest.”