Early Life
Born in Ngor Okpala, Imo State, Stephanie Okereke grew up as the sixth of eight children in her family. She completed her primary and secondary education in Delta State and earned a degree in English and Literary Studies from the University of Calabar.
Career
Stephanie Okereke launched her acting career as a teenager in 1997, appearing in films like Compromise 2 and Waterloo. Later on, she attended the New York Film Academy in 2007, where she wrote, produced, directed, and starred in Through the Glass. The film earned a nomination for Best Screenplay at the 2009 Africa Movie Academy Awards. Years later, her 2014 film Dry won several major awards, including Best Overall Movie at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Beyond acting, Stephanie also made a significant mark in social advocacy. She served as a Regional Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) from 2017 to 2020. Continuing her activism, she released two short films in 2021—The Student and Bad Police—to address gender-based violence. More recently, in 2024, she received the Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine from Thomas Jefferson University, recognizing her use of film to drive social change.
Nevertheless, Stephanie’s journey hasn’t been without hardship. In 2005, she survived a serious car accident en route to the Africa Movie Academy Awards, sustaining severe burns and a broken leg. Despite the setback, she returned stronger and continues to be a resilient and influential force in the African film industry.
Click Here For More Post
