Nehita Ofure leads emotional stage play ‘Surrounded’ at BFF festival

Award-winning actress and beauty queen Nehita Ofure Irieme captivated audiences with a powerful performance in the stage play ‘Surrounded’ at the recent Building Forever Friendships (BFF) Festival 2026 in Lagos. Her portrayal was a standout moment of the festival, with the emotional depth of the narrative moving many attendees to tears.

‘Surrounded’ delves into the intricate dynamics of friendship, the pain of betrayal, and the challenging path toward emotional healing. The play presents a raw and relatable depiction of broken trust and the arduous journey of learning to trust again. Irieme shared the stage with fellow actors Ariyike Dimples, Abbeytee, and Bankole Bayo, who portrayed Elizabeth, Shadow, and Chris, respectively. Together, the cast brought to life a deeply emotional story centered on friendship, heartbreak, vulnerability, and the essential nature of human connection.

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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.

For Irieme, the role provided a significant opportunity to showcase her versatility and the depth of her craft, building upon her experience across various creative platforms. She described the theatrical experience as both demanding and rewarding, emphasizing that stage acting requires a distinct level of vulnerability and immediate connection with the audience. "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 shared.

Irieme also noted the play's message resonated deeply with her, highlighting the importance of friendship in human relationships and overall emotional well-being. "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," she added. The BFF Festival, hosted annually in Lagos by Bola Adetoun Jegede, is recognized as the world's largest friendship festival, aiming to foster community, emotional healing, and meaningful human connections through diverse activities.

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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.