Na serious heartbreak veteran Nollywood actor and broadcaster Patrick Doyle dey face as im newborn pikin die just one day after dem born am. The baby girl wey dem name Omayinuwa Mayen Harriet Doyle, born around 10:40am for Friday, April 10, 2026, but she return to heaven by 4:15pm for Saturday, April 11. Na so the actor yarn am for im Facebook page on Sunday.
Patrick Doyle don announce the birth with plenty joy on Saturday. Him talk say both mama and pikin dey fine well-well. Him write say, “To the glory of God, I announce the precious addition of a female child to my quiver.” Him even add say daddy dey overwhelmed with joy and gratitude to God Almighty. But the joy no last at all.
Less than 30 hours after the pikin first cry, everything change. Doyle come post again on Sunday to break the sad news. Him write, “Omayinuwa visited us briefly at about 10:40 am on Friday 10th April and returned to heaven on Saturday 11th of April at about 4:15 pm.” The man show strong faith even for the middle of this kain pain. Him talk say, “Her stay was short but it brought great joy with it. We would have wished for a longer stay, but alas, heaven thought otherwise.”
This pikin na the first child for Patrick Doyle and im wife Funmilayo wey dem marry for 2023. The marriage come after Doyle divorce from veteran actress Ireti Doyle wey dem don dey together for over two decades. From that previous marriage, and from one before am, Patrick Doyle get plenty adult children already. But this new pikin na special one for the new marriage.
Na so the news scatter for social media. Fans and colleagues for Nollywood begin dey pour condolences. Many people dey talk about how cruel the situation be – from celebration to mourning within hours. The actor’s post show say im dey hold faith tight. Him write, “This much we know though, God still rules in the affairs of men. Our faith in the goodness of God remains resolute regardless. Sibe’ sibe’ Oluwa n’be’. It is well with our soul.”
Patrick Doyle no be stranger to personal tragedy. Years back, im lose im first wife, Rosamond Ndidi Doyle, and one of im sons to sickle cell anaemia. But the man still dey stand strong for Nigerian media landscape. Him rise to fame for 1980s and 1990s as broadcaster for Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and as actor for classic Nollywood films like Violated and The Widow.
The entertainment industry dey mourn with am. Messages dey pour from all corners. Even though the pikin stay short, Doyle talk say she bring great joy for the short time. The family dey lean on their faith as dem dey face this painful loss. Na so life be sometimes – one minute you dey celebrate new life, next minute you dey bury am.
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