Nollywood actress Lilian Esoro has opened up about the painful loss of her father, revealing that his sudden death a few weeks ago has left her battling intense and unpredictable waves of grief.
Esoro shared the news in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday, accompanied by a photograph of her late father. She described him as an important figure in her life and credited him with playing a significant role in her Christian faith.
According to the actress, her father was “the man who led me to Christ” and her only living parent. His death came at a particularly difficult period, shortly after she had also experienced the loss of a close friend.
She wrote, “A man who was an integral part of my life—the man who led me to Christ, my only living parent, my Dad—passed away suddenly.”
Reflecting on the weeks following his death, Esoro said she had attempted to cope by keeping herself busy with work, social engagements and event planning. However, she admitted that those activities had not been enough to take away the pain of losing her father.
She said, “Nothing feels quite the same,” while explaining that grief had affected her in different ways from one day to another.
“This kind of grief is different. It is heart-wrenching and almost impossible to explain. Some days, I am genuinely happy. Other days, a wave of sadness hits me so suddenly and so deeply that I almost don’t know what to do with it or how to react,” she added.
“It is well with my soul. God is still God! With him there is no controversy,” the actress wrote.
Esoro also expressed gratitude to her family and friends for standing by her with love, prayers and support since her father’s passing. Her post subsequently drew messages of sympathy from colleagues and fans who offered words of comfort.
Actress Nancy Isime wrote, “Sending you lots of love as you navigate through this difficult time Lili.”
Shafii Bello also extended her condolences, writing, “Please accept my condolences my darling Lilian. May God comfort you.”
Similarly, actress Chioma Akpotha wrote, “So sorry for your loss my dear Lilian,” while Uzor Arukwe added, “Lily, please accept my deepest condolences.”
The outpouring of support from her colleagues reflects the difficult period Esoro is currently experiencing as she mourns the loss of a parent she described as a deeply significant part of her life.