Veteran Yoruba Nollywood actor Yomi King, popularly known as Opebe, is facing a worsening health condition, with filmmaker Kunle Afod calling on Nigerians and industry stakeholders to come to his aid.
Afod made the appeal on Friday after visiting the veteran actor at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a video shared on his Instagram page, Afod described Opebe as one of the elders in the Nigerian film industry and expressed concern over his deteriorating condition.
He urged individuals, organisations and medical professionals who could offer assistance to step forward and help the actor access the care he needs.
Opebe, speaking during the visit, disclosed that he has been dealing with the health challenge since last year and has had to stay away from acting because of his condition.
According to the actor, he has undergone several medical examinations at different hospitals, but doctors have yet to establish a specific diagnosis.
He said the tests only revealed that he was short of blood, leading to a blood transfusion involving four pints.
Despite the treatment, Opebe said his condition has continued to worsen.
“I have done a series of tests but nothing was found. They only told me that I’m short of blood and I was given four pints of blood,” he said.
The veteran actor added that his prolonged health struggle has kept him away from the screen, while repeated visits to hospitals have failed to determine the underlying cause of his illness.
Opebe is known for his comic roles in Yoruba-language productions and has been part of the industry for decades. A 2022 profile by P.M. News identified him as Yomi King and noted that he began acting in 1979 before gaining recognition through the television programme Erinkeke.
His health appeal comes amid renewed concerns over the welfare of ageing Nigerian entertainers, with Afod having previously used his social media platforms to draw public attention to health challenges affecting veteran figures in the entertainment industry.
Afod has now asked Nigerians to support Opebe, particularly by helping connect him with appropriate medical care or other assistance that could improve his condition.
