By Benjamin Njoku
Award-winning actress and beauty queen Nehita Ofure Irieme delivered a powerful performance in the stage play ‘Surrounded’, staged at the recently concluded Building Forever Friendships, BFF, Festival 2026 in Lagos.
Her performance was one of the highlights of the festival, with the emotional weight of the story leaving members of the audience in tears.
‘Surrounded’ explores the complexities of friendship, betrayal and emotional healing, presenting a raw and relatable account of what happens when trust is broken and the difficult journey of learning to trust again.
Nehita shared the stage with star actress Ariyike Dimples, who played Elizabeth; Abbeytee, who portrayed Shadow; and Bankole Bayo, who played Chris. Together, the cast brought to life a deeply emotional story about friendship, heartbreak, vulnerability and the importance of human connection.
For the actress and filmmaker, the role offered another opportunity to explore the depth and versatility of her craft, building on her experience as a performer across different creative platforms. She described the experience as both challenging and rewarding, noting that theatre demanded a different level of vulnerability and connection from an actor.
“Playing Ayanfe in ‘Surrounded’ was such a beautiful and challenging experience. Theatre is very different because there is nowhere to hide. You are right there with the audience, and every emotion has to be honest and immediate. The role allowed me to explore pain, betrayal and vulnerability in a very intimate way, and I am grateful for the opportunity.”
She added that the message of the play resonated deeply with her because friendship is an important part of human relationships and emotional wellbeing.
“What I love about ‘Surrounded’ is that it reminds us that friendship can be beautiful, but it can also hurt deeply when trust is broken. We all experience moments when we feel disappointed, betrayed or alone. But the courage to open your heart again is part of healing. I hope everyone who watched the play left with a renewed appreciation for genuine friendship and meaningful connections.
The BFF Festival, hosted annually in Lagos, Nigeria, by Bola Adetoun Jegede, is described as the world’s biggest friendship festival. The gathering celebrates community, emotional healing and meaningful human connections through conversations, games, networking activities and prizes.
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