Nollywood actor Osita Iheme has said he has no plans to get married, explaining that he is more focused on living his life and supporting the people close to him.
Iheme, popularly known as Pawpaw, made the comment during an interview with Naija FM, where he spoke about his decision to remain unmarried despite being one of the most recognisable actors of his generation.
“I’m already 43, I have no plans of getting married. I just want to live my life and help those closer to me. My brothers and sisters have children, whom I consider mine,” Iheme said.
The actor's comments place his family and the children of his siblings at the centre of how he currently views parenthood and family life. In a 2016 interview with The Punch, the actor was asked about his plans to settle down and said he would get married at the right time. At the time, Iheme did not rule out marriage and presented it as something that would happen when the circumstances were right.
Two years later, in a 2018 interview with the Vanguard, Iheme again spoke about marriage and the kind of woman he would want to marry. He said he preferred a woman who was God-fearing and intelligent and added that people would be the first to know when he eventually got married.
The statement is not the first time Iheme has publicly said he does not intend to marry. Similar comments were reported in 2025, when the actor was quoted as saying that he had no plans for marriage or children and wanted to focus on his life and the people close to him.
Born on February 20, 1982, Iheme became a household name after playing Pawpaw in the 2002 comedy film Aki na Ukwa, alongside Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as Aki.
The pairing of Aki and Pawpaw became one of the most recognisable comedy duos in Nollywood, with Iheme going on to appear in several Nigerian films as his acting career expanded beyond the childlike comedy roles that first made him famous.
His film credits include The Mirror Boy, Christmas in Miami and Aki and Pawpaw. He has also received recognition for his contribution to the Nigerian film industry, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2007.
In 2011, Iheme was also conferred with the Nigerian national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his contribution to the entertainment industry.
Now 44, Iheme has continued to maintain a public profile while keeping much of his private life away from the public.