Biography
Who is Stephanie Okereke?
Early life and education
Stephanie Okereke: Born in Ngor Okpala, Imo State, Nigeria, she is the sixth of eight children born to parents Mary and Chima Okereke. She completed her primary and secondary schooling in Delta State. Later, she pursued higher education at the University of Calabar in Cross River State, where she successfully earned a degree in English and Literary Studies.
After establishing herself in the industry, she furthered her professional training at the New York Film Academy. She graduated from this institution in 2007, enhancing her skills in directing and production.
Acting and directing career
Stephanie began her acting career as a teenager in 1997, appearing in the movies Compromise 2 and Waterloo. She gained significant notice in 2002 as a runner-up in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant. By 2003, she won two accolades at the Reel Awards for Best Actress in English and Best Actress of the Year. She has since appeared in over 90 motion pictures.
In 2007, she wrote, produced, and directed her own film, Through the Glass, which earned an Africa Movie Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay. Her 2014 film Dry also saw immense success, winning several honors including the best overall movie prize at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. In 2021, she produced two short films titled The Student and Bad Police to support her campaign against gender-based violence.
Public service and recognition
The Nigerian government recognized her professional achievements in 2011 by awarding her the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, or MFR, national honor. From March 2017 until 2020, she served as a Regional Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund, known as the UNFPA.
In 2024, she received the Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine, presented by Thomas Jefferson University. Throughout her career, she has received multiple nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Personal life and marriage
In April 2005, she survived a serious car accident while traveling to the Africa Movie Academy Awards in Bayelsa State, which resulted in a broken leg and severe burns. She married Linus Idahosa in Paris, France, during a private ceremony in April 2012. The couple celebrated their 13th anniversary in April 2024.
The couple has two sons together. Their first child, Maxwell Enosata Linus, was born in October 2015. They welcomed their second son in May 2022, seven years after the birth of their first child.
Birthday and age
Stephanie Okereke was born on October 2, 1982, which makes Stephanie 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Stephanie shares the date with 35 other famous people.
Explore more
