By Sulaymon Rukoya
January 15th, 2025
Renowned Nollywood actress Stella Damasus has revealed that her family’s original surname was Ojukwu before it was changed during the Nigerian Civil War.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Stella disclosed that the change was made to protect her family from being targeted due to the name’s association with the late Biafran war leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Explaining further, she said, “Damasus is my grandfather’s first name. It’s a Greek name. My original surname was Ojukwu, but that changed during the Biafran war when my people were attacked in Asaba because they thought it was the same Ojukwu. I was born into Damasus, and when I asked why, that was the reason they gave me.”
Ebuka noted that many people were surprised to learn this part of her history, to which Stella agreed, acknowledging how her story has shocked others.