…relieves experiences of past, present marriages
Veteran Nollywood actress, Stephanie Okereke has advised people with relationship issues not to allow their previous experiences to deter them from loving again.
Stephanie who relieved her experience in her first marriage which ended after four years said she was not discouraged from giving another man a chance in her life.
“I got married in 2004 to Chikelue Iloenyosi, a former Super Eagles player, but four years later the marriage ended painfully when I found out he was still legally married to another woman in the United States. So in 2008 the court dissolved our marriage leaving me with a heavy heart that needed healing”, Stephanie revealed, noting that she found joy in her new marriage.
She continued “In 2009 I met Linus Idahosa at a social gathering, and from the start he was clear, intentional and made me feel safe. We became friends, we shared long talks and slowly that friendship grew into love that felt genuine and peaceful.
On my birthday he proposed at Jay Jay Okocha’s Club 10. I said yes with joy, and in April 2012 we married in Paris surrounded by family and close friends. Today, we are blessed with two beautiful sons, Maxwell and Wesley, and my heart is full of gratitude for this second chance at love.
I am grateful that pain did not stop me from believing in love again, because life always gives us another chance if we stay open and hopeful. My story is a reminder that even after brokenness you can still rise, heal and find true happiness”.
Stephanie Okereke Linus is a renowned Nigerian actress, film director, and model, born on October 2, 1982, in Ngor Okpala, Imo State. She’s known for her versatility in over 90 Nollywood movies and her dedication to social causes.
She began her acting career as a teenager with roles in 1997 with films like “Compromise 2” and “Waterloo”.
Stephanie’s exceptional dedication in her acting roles has won her several awards, including the 2003 Reel Award for Best Actress and the 2006 Afro Hollywood Award for Best Actress.
Her notable movies include: “Dry” (2014), “The Student” and “Bad Police” (2021), and “Journey to America” (upcoming TV series).
Stephanie is also a philanthropist who founded the ‘Extended Hands Foundation’, an NGO dedicated to advocating for women’s rights and health, particularly in addressing Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).
She was honored with the Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine by Thomas Jefferson University for her contributions to social activism.
