Veteran actor Sadiq Daba, is dead.
Late Daba who became a household name in Nigeria for his role as Bitrus in the now rested NTA drama series Cock Crow at Dawn, died on Wednesday evening, March 3, after a long battle with Leukemia and prostate cancer.
He reportedly died at his Marwa Garden residence in Alausa, Lagos State.
In 2019, he came out to publicly seek financial assistance for his treatment. Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola and many other Nigerians rallied around and supported him financially.
Originally from Kano state, Daba grew up in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He moved back to Nigeria at the age of 15. In Sierra Leone, he attended primary school and St. Edward’s Secondary school.
He returned to Nigeria and got higher degrees in many institutions including Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna state.
Growing up, he wanted to be a broadcaster. He finally got a chance in 1968, when he met a certain Alifa Baba Hammed. The latter found him impressive and arranged for an audition at the Radio Television, Kaduna.
Then, Daba worked as a news anchor, reporter and editor at RKTV, NTPC Lagos and NTA Lagos.
His acting career came to prominence in the late 1970s, starring in Cockcrow at Dawn.
Daba featured in a lot of other films and soap operas like ‘Behind the Clouds’, ‘A Place Like Home’, ‘Soweto’, and ‘Moment of Truth’.
In 2015, he won Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as “Inspector Waziri” in Kunle Afolayan’s October 1. He was last seen acting in Kunle Afolayan’s 2020 movie ‘Citation’ as Professor Yahaya.
Daba announced his diagnosis of Leukemia and Prostate Cancer in 2017 and several Nigerians rallied round him to source for funds.
He was married to Bolaji Daba and they share two children and grandchildren.
Sadly, he lost the battle to the ailment this evening.
May his soul rest in peace, Amen.
He reportedly died at his Marwa Garden residence in Alausa, Lagos State.
In 2019, he came out to publicly seek financial assistance for his treatment. Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola and many other Nigerians rallied around and supported him financially.
Originally from Kano state, Daba grew up in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He moved back to Nigeria at the age of 15. In Sierra Leone, he attended primary school and St. Edward’s Secondary school.
He returned to Nigeria and got higher degrees in many institutions including Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna state.
Growing up, he wanted to be a broadcaster. He finally got a chance in 1968, when he met a certain Alifa Baba Hammed. The latter found him impressive and arranged for an audition at the Radio Television, Kaduna.
Then, Daba worked as a news anchor, reporter and editor at RKTV, NTPC Lagos and NTA Lagos.
His acting career came to prominence in the late 1970s, starring in Cockcrow at Dawn.
Daba featured in a lot of other films and soap operas like ‘Behind the Clouds’, ‘A Place Like Home’, ‘Soweto’, and ‘Moment of Truth’.
In 2015, he won Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as “Inspector Waziri” in Kunle Afolayan’s October 1. He was last seen acting in Kunle Afolayan’s 2020 movie ‘Citation’ as Professor Yahaya.
Daba announced his diagnosis of Leukemia and Prostate Cancer in 2017 and several Nigerians rallied round him to source for funds.
He was married to Bolaji Daba and they share two children and grandchildren.
Sadly, he lost the battle to the ailment this evening.
May his soul rest in peace, Amen.
