12 things to know about music icon, actress and activist Onyeka Onwenu (photos)

The demise of music icon, actress and broadcaster, Onyeka Onwenu has continued to generate reactions from Nigerians who are in disbelief.

The 72-year-old was confirmed dead at Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos after she collapsed shortly after she performed at the 80th birthday celebration of her friend, Stella Okolie, the founder of Emzor Pharmaceuticals.

The official cause of her death has not yet been disclosed. Here are 10 things to know about the multidimensional Onyeka Onwenu:

Onyeka Onwenu was born and raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on January 31, 1952.
Onyeka was the youngest daughter of Nigerian educationist and politician D.K. Onwenu. Tragically, she never had the chance to know her father, as he passed away in a car crash when she was just 4 years old. Her father died a week before he was to be named the Minister of Education under the Governor-General, Sir John Macpherson.
She was a Nigerian broadcast journalist, singer-songwriter, actress, politician, human rights and social activist, and a former judge on the X Factor series.
Onwenu began her broadcast career in 1980 as a National Youth Service Corps member with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Lagos. In 1984, she wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary, Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches. She also worked as a TV presenter, hosting the shows Contact (1988) and Who’s On? (1993) on NTA Network.
She held a BA in International Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research, New York.
Onwenu began her broadcast career in 1980 as a National Youth Service Corps member with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Lagos. In 1984, she wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary, Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches. She also worked as a TV presenter, hosting the shows Contact (1988) and Who’s On? (1993) on NTA Network.
She held a BA in International Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research, New York.
In politics, Onyeka Onwenu was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. She contested twice for the position of Local Council Chairman of Ideato North Local Government Area in Imo State but was unsuccessful in both attempts.
She was appointed Chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture by former Governor Ikedi Ohakim. In 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Onyeka as Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development.
She was awarded the National Honor of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011 for her contributions to Nigerian society.
Onyeka Onwenu was married to a Yoruba Muslim Yoruba identified simply as Ogunlende. The union produced two sons, Tijani and Ibrahim Ogunlende. However, Ibrahim later changed his first name to Abraham.
Until her death, Onyeka Onwenu faced rumours of a relationship with King Sunny Ade, especially in the late 1980s and early 1990s when they collaborated on several records. However, she consistently denied these claims.