Mercy Johnson Biography, Movie Career, Personal Life

Mixed reactions have trailed Mercy Johnson’s APC campaign post. Daily News24 brings you her biography.

Mercy Johnson Okojie was born in Okene, Kogi State. She is the fourth child in a family of seven children, born in Lagos State to a former naval officer, Daniel Johnson, and his wife Elizabeth. Her primary education began in Calabar, Cross River State.

Her education was continued at the Nigerian Navy Primary School in Lagos. She attended Rivers State Secondary School as well as the Nigerian Navy Secondary School in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for her secondary education.

Movie career 

She auditioned for a role in The Maid shortly after finishing high school and has since appeared in films such as Hustlers, Baby Oku in America, and War in the Palace.

She received Best Supporting Actress at the 2009 African Movie Award ceremony for her performance in the film “Live to Remember,” and Best Actress at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for her role in the comedy film Dumebi the Dirty Girl.

She was named Google’s most searched Nigerian celebrity in December 2011, a position she also held in 2012. She is the Kogi state governor’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) for entertainment, arts, and culture. The position became effective on April 1, 2017.

Mercy Johnson was once barred from acting because she was too expensive. On 3 November 2013, Nollywood movie marketers threatened to bar her from the industry due to her high demands.

She and other Nollywood stars, including Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Richard Mofe Damijo, Emeka Ike, Ramsey Nouah, Nkem Owoh, Stella Damasus, and Jim Iyke, were barred from acting because they allegedly demanded exorbitant pay raises per movie. However, following an apology from the actress, marketers/producers lifted the ban on March 9, 2014.

Personal life 

Mercy Johnson married her Edo Prince husband, Prince Odianosen Okojie, in a traditional Edo ceremony at her family home, dressed in symbolic garments. On August 27, 2011, the ceremony was held at her family’s home in Oke Adan, Gospel Village, Iyano, Isashi, Okoko, Lagos State.

She married Prince Odi in the midst of a scandal when a woman, Lovely Okojie, came forward and claimed he was still married to her. Prince Odi maintained that they were never legally married, but that his parents had done so in order for his children to be recognized as legitimate.

On December 30, 2012, she gave birth to a daughter, Purity Ozioma Okojie, at an undisclosed hospital in the United States. Her father bestowed the name Purity on her. He claims he named her after his wife’s wonderful qualities.

Henry Ozioma Okojie, their son, was born on October 15, 2014. He was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland.

She established the ‘Mercy Johnson Foundation’ to assist poor children and widows. She herself contributes to the fund on a regular basis.

Notable Movies