Stephanie Okereke Linus was born Stephanie Onyekachi Okereke on 2 October 1982 in Ngor Okpala, Imo State, Nigeria. She began acting as a teenager, debuting in Nollywood films at age 15 and quickly becoming one of the industry’s most respected actresses. Over her career she has starred in more than 100 films, winning awards such as the Reel Award for Best Actress, Afro-Hollywood Award, and multiple nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. In 2011 the Nigerian government honoured her with the national title Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for her contributions to culture and society.
Stephanie expanded her creative skills behind the camera, directing and producing her first feature film Through the Glass, establishing her range as an artist committed to telling powerful stories.
Cinema With Purpose The Story of Dry
In 2014 Stephanie wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the film Dry, a dramatic movie confronting child marriage and vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). The film follows the harrowing journey of a young Nigerian girl forced into marriage, whose body and spirit are forever changed by complications in childbirth.
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Dry was released at a time when child marriage and reproductive health challenges were central issues in Nigeria and beyond. Through vivid storytelling and unflinching realism, the film brought global attention to the health and social consequences of underage marriage and limited maternal healthcare access.
The film won numerous accolades including recognition from the Africa Movie Academy Awards and Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Dry was celebrated not only for its cinematic strengths but for opening public dialogue on critical women’s issues.
More than entertainment, Dry became an educational and advocacy tool, screened in community forums, used in health awareness campaigns, and referenced in conversations about women’s health and human rights across Africa.
Championing Women’s Health and Human Rights
Stephanie’s creative activism evolved into formal advocacy. In March 2017 she was appointed Regional Ambassador for West and Central Africa by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a role she held through 2020. In this capacity she raised awareness and educated publics on maternal and reproductive health, rights of young people, and the importance of safe childbirth. Her UNFPA engagement involved outreach, film screenings, advocacy tours, and shaping public dialogue on women and girls’ health.
Stephanie also founded the Extended Hands Foundation, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls affected by obstetric fistula, providing support, facilitating surgeries, and working with medical partners to enhance treatment care.
Global Platforms and Partnerships
Stephanie’s commitment to women’s rights has led her to global stages beyond Nigeria. She has featured in international events alongside world leaders and advocates, participated in forums addressing gender-based violence, and collaborated with organisations focused on health and social justice. Her work has taken her to conferences, film festivals, and educational events around the world.
She has engaged in initiatives that link art with health activism, including programs to improve maternal and nutritional health in Africa, bridging cultural influence with tangible community interventions.
Accolades and Ongoing Legacy
Stephanie’s efforts have attracted both artistic and humanitarian honours. In 2024, she became the first Black recipient of the Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine, awarded by Thomas Jefferson University in recognition of her advocacy for women’s health and her role in raising awareness of maternal health challenges through film and public action.
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Her legacy is defined not only by awards but by the lives touched through her storytelling, advocacy, and direct support for women suffering preventable health conditions. Stephanie continues to inspire filmmakers, activists, and health champions who see cinema as a platform for change.
The Power of Narrative for Social Change
Stephanie Okereke Linus exemplifies how art and activism can merge to address societal inequities. Through compelling performances, socially conscious filmmaking, and sustained advocacy, she has elevated issues like child marriage, maternal health disparities, and gender-based violence into spaces of public engagement and awareness.
Her journey illustrates that creative expression can be more than entertainment, it can be a catalyst for compassion, understanding, and transformation.
Author’s Note
Stephanie Okereke Linus is an acclaimed actress and filmmaker whose passion for storytelling evolved into a purposeful crusade for women’s dignity, health, and rights. As a star of Nollywood, she captivated audiences with her performances, but her socially-driven films and activism deepened her impact. By confronting child marriage, gender-based violence, and maternal healthcare challenges, Stephanie demonstrates that storytelling can inspire change, educate communities, and champion human rights. Her life and work show that when talent meets conviction, cinema becomes a force for justice and societal transformation.
References
Stephanie Okereke Linus biography and UNFPA ambassadorship
Film Dry and thematic focus on child marriage and VVF
Extended Hands Foundation and advocacy work
Awards including Reel Awards, AMAA recognition, and Lennox K. Black International Prize
Global advocacy and partnerships
