Why my surname changed from Ojukwu during civil war – Stella Damasus

By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi

Renowned Nollywood actress Stella Damasus has revealed that her family’s original surname was Ojukwu, but it was changed during the Nigerian Civil War to avoid persecution.

The actress made this revelation during an interview with media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

She explained that her grandfather altered the family name to “Damasus” after their previous name, Ojukwu, was mistakenly associated with the late Biafran war general, Odumegwu Ojukwu.

“Damasus is my grandfather’s first name. It’s a Greek name,” Stella clarified. “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.”