Stephanie Okereke is a top Nigerian actress, film producer, director, and advocate for women’s rights.
In this post, you will see Stephanie Okereke’s biography and net worth, her age, origin, family, and other facts you probably didn’t know about her.
Stephanie Okereke’s Biography
Stephanie Okereke Linus, also known as Stephanie Onyekachi Okereke, is a Nigerian actress, film director, scriptwriter, model, producer, and the Executive Director of Extended Hands Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that provides free treatment for women and girls with obstetric fistulas.
She was the 3rd runner-up in the 2002 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant.
Stephanie Okereke’s Age
Stephanie Okereke Linus was born on 2nd October 1982 in Ngor Okpala, Imo State, Nigeria, making her 42 years old as of 2024. She is the sixth child in a family of eight children
Stephanie Okereke’s State of Origin
She hails from Ngor Okpala, Imo State, South East Nigeria, and is of the Igbo tribe.
Stephanie Okereke’s Parents
She is the daughter of Mr. Chima Okereke and Mrs. Mary Chima. Her parents have been supporting her growth and career from a young age.
Education
Stephanie Linus completed her primary and secondary education in Delta State, Nigeria. Afterwards, she attended the University of Calabar in Cross River State, where she earned a degree in English and Literary Studies.
After her academic journey in Nigeria, Stephanie pursued further studies at the New York Film Academy in the United States, where she honed her skills in film and acting.
Career
Stephanie Okereke Linus began her acting career as a teenager in 1997 while still in secondary school. Her big break came after she competed in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant, where she became the 3rd runner-up.
Her success in the pageant opened the door for her to star in Nollywood movies such as “Compromise 2” and “Waterloo,” both of which brought her into the spotlight and earned her numerous acting contracts.
Upon graduating from the New York Film Academy in 2007, Stephanie Okereke became a director, scriptwriter, and producer upon graduating from the New York Film Academy in 2007.
Stephanie Okereke’s Movies
Okereke contributed hugely to Nollywood with the release of her movie “Through the Glass,” where she wore multiple hats as the director, scriptwriter, producer, and actress.
The film received a nomination at the 2009 Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Screenplay, marking a major milestone in her career. However, her most notable work came with the 2014 movie “Dry,” which she again wrote, directed, produced, and starred in.
“Dry” won several prestigious awards, including Best Overall Movie at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and Best Film at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards. As part of her win, Stephanie was gifted a brand new car.
The film, which tells the heartbreaking story of Halima, a 13-year-old girl who was married to a 60-year-old man by her poor, uneducated parents, and the tragic consequences she faces, was both a critical and commercial success.
Halima’s husband repeatedly forced himself on her, impregnated her, and she also suffered from an obstetric fistula during childbirth. Consequently, he abandoned Halima, and society also discriminated against her.
A month after the release of the movie in Gambia in partnership with UNFPA, Yahya Jammeh, the former President of Gambia, banned child marriage in the country. The movie also had an emotional effect in Zambia, where its screening brought the First Lady of Zambia to tears.
In March 2021, Stephanie produced two short movies, “The Student” and “Bad Police,” as part of her campaign to speak against gender-based violence against female folk.
Additionally, in her international career, Stephanie starred in “Boonville Redemption,” a Hollywood movie shot in Los Angeles, showcasing her versatility and growth in the film industry.
Stephanie Okereke’s Accident
Stephanie experienced a very serious car accident in April 2005 on her way to the Africa Movie Academy Awards held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The accident, which almost took her life, left her with severe injuries, including a broken leg and burns all over her body.
During her induction as a Nigerian road safety officer, she recounted that, in the moment of the accident, in that split second, she thought she was in a movie role and the director would soon shout “cut.”
However, when that didn’t happen, she struggled to run out of the car, put the other leg out, but could not move. In a desperate attempt to free herself, she jumped onto the fire, got burnt, and began to smell like “roasted Christmas goat.” People gathered around her, saying, Eeeyyaah, it’s the actress, but refused to come near and help her.
Stephanie Okereke’s Wedding
Actress Stephanie Okereke’s first husband was Chikelue Iloenyosi, a former Super Eagles football player. The couple got married in 2004, but their union was shortlived.
In 2012, after eight years of marriage, their relationship came to an end when the Lagos High Court dissolved their marriage. It was revealed that Chikelue Iloenyosi was allegedly legally married to another woman in the United States while still married to Stephanie, which led to the dissolution of their marriage.
However, Stephanie found love again and remarried her second husband, Linus Idahosa, a Nigerian businessman. The couple tied the knot in Paris, France, in a private ceremony on 21st April 2012. Only close family members and a few Nollywood actors and actresses attended the event due to the distance.
The couple recently celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary. Their marriage is a testament to resilience and finding happiness after hardship.
How Old Is Stephanie Okereke’s Husband
Linus Idahosa, Stephanie Okereke’s husband, is over 39 years old and is a famous Nigerian businessman. He serves as the CEO of Del-York International, a leading marketing and communications firm, and is also the founder of Del-York Creative Academy, a well-regarded institution that offers training in creative and media arts.
Children
Stephanie Linus and her husband, Linus Idahosa, have two children together. They welcomed their first son, Maxwell Enosata Linus, in October 2015. Seven years later, in May 2022, they joyfully welcomed their second son, Wesley Osasele Linus.
Net worth
As of 2024, Stephanie Okereke’s estimated net worth was $4 million, making her one of the richest actresses in Nigeria. She earns money from various sources, including acting, directing, scriptwriting, brand endorsement deals, and other businesses.
Stephanie Okereke’s Endorsement Deals
She was the brand ambassador for Kanekalon, also known as Kaneka Japan corporations, a leading maker of hair fibres.
Okereke also signed another multimillion-naira endorsement deal with Miniso. A popular Chinese company known for lifestyle products, including cosmetics, home goods, and accessories.
Afterwards, she landed two more deals with LG Electronics and California Natural Foods’ Green Valley Oatmeal.
These endorsements have contributed greatly to her wealth and also established her as a prominent figure in the marketing and brand ambassador space.
Awards
Stephanie Okereke Linus has won many awards and nominations for her work as a top actress. Some of her notable awards and recognitions include:
- the 2011 national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR, by the Nigerian government.
- 2006 Afro-Hollywood Award for Best Actress.
- In 2003, she received 8 nominations and won two awards: the 2003 Reel Award for Best Actress—English and ‘Best Actress of the year 2003.‘
In addition, she received three more nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards for her exceptional performances in 2005, 2009, and 2010, respectively. These awards are just a few of the many recognitions that Stephanie Okereke Linus has received throughout her career in Nollywood.
Where is Stephanie Okereke now?
Stephanie Okereke and her billionaire husband and kids live in a well-furnished, luxurious mansion fitted with modern facilities in Lagos State, Nigeria. They enjoy a luxurious lifestyle
Cars
Yes, Stephanie Okereke added a GAC GS5 to her fleet of cars. The GAC GS5 is a Chinese-made affordable SUV, and it’s valued at around $17,460 (approximately N5.5 million).
Lifestyle
Stephanie Okereke loves spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys travelling, discovering, experiencing new things, and cooking delicious meals. Stephanie is a sucker for a nice fragrance but has very little tolerance for mediocrity.
Stephanie Linus’s Advice for Young Filmmakers
She said:
“To become successful in anything, you need to first of all love what you do and have a strong passion for it. You also need to build up your skills, read widely, study your craft, and keep on setting bigger targets for yourself.
Growth is a gradual process and you must aspire to it every day. This must be backed with a strong determination to succeed.
Believing strongly that God has given you all the abilities you need, you can be anything you want to be”.
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