How I survived Brain Surgery – Zack Orji

Veteran Nigerian actor, director, producer and filmmaker, Zack Orji has opened up on how he survived a brain-harrowing experience.

In March 2024, the veteran actor flew to the United Kingdom for a post-surgery evaluation.

Before his departure to the UK, Orji was reported to have undergone two brain surgeries at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Speaking on events that led to his critical medical emergency on Channels TV, Orji said the ‘Grace of God’ is the reason he is alive.

He stated that his friend, Bala Ahmed, who was in the UK then, was alerted which prompted a swift response from colleagues.

The actor said: “I slumped in the bathroom, and I can only say that it’s by the grace of God that I’m alive today because I passed out. I was out for like five and a half hours before help came.

“Benedict Johnson rushed to the house, and I was there on the floor, incoherent. I couldn’t even stand because when he raised me, I slumped again, and he had to call another colleague whom we call Labista.

“So, the two of them lifted me on their shoulders from the second floor to the ground floor and took me to the National Hospital. On January 1st, the first surgery was performed by Dr Biodun Ogungbo, a neurosurgeon, he’s an awesome guy, a month later, after scans revealed a residual blood clot, I underwent a second surgery by the same doctor.”

Orji said he was overwhelmed by the support he received.

“It was overwhelming the way people responded to the whole thing,” he said.

Meanwhile, Orji said he received support from prominent figures, including the President of Nigeria, the President’s wife, the Vice President’s wife, the President’s son, and various ministers.

He said: “But in all of it, I’m grateful to God Almighty and I’m also grateful to so many people who stepped in. The President of Nigeria, the First Lady, the wife to the Vice President, the President’s son, the Minister for Women’s Affairs, the Minister for Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, the Minister for Works, and a whole lot of other people.

“I was receiving calls from South Africa, from the UK, from the US. Some of them were willing to, they were asking me, how can we help? How can we be of assistance? So it was overwhelming the way people responded to the whole thing.”

Born 1960, Orji is known for his role in Nollywood movies ‘Glamour Girls’ and ‘Blood Money’.

Aside from acting, Orji is a preacher