In a video that has circulated widely on social media, the veteran actor — best known for his role in the Dadin Kowa series on Arewa 24 — revealed that while he has been receiving treatment for the past one year and seven months, the cost has taken a heavy toll on him and his family.
“The treatment has drained my resources despite the support of friends, clerics, and colleagues in the film industry,” Yakubu said, while expressing gratitude to those who have stood by him.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me, especially groups of clerics, the Arewa 24 team, and Kannywood Vanguard. I am calling on anyone I have wronged to please forgive me. I need help. I have to pay ₦250,000 every three weeks for an injection. Even the hospital bed costs ₦51,000. Please help me. May Allah help us all.”
Born in Yobe State, Yakubu began acting in 1986 and has written more scripts than he has featured in as an actor. In a 2021 interview with BBC Hausa, he spoke of his passion for storytelling and his long career in Kannywood.
Away from the screen, the actor is married to three wives and is a father of 10 children.
As his health struggles continue, many fans and industry colleagues have taken to social media to share prayers and pledges of support, reflecting the deep affection in which he is held across northern Nigeria’s film industry.