Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo’s biography: Age, family, net worth, political career
Did you know actor Kenneth Okonkwo is a professional lawyer? Besides, he is a film producer and entrepreneur. His acting career thrust him into fame. He is best known for his roles in Wives on Strike: The Revolution, Kingdom of Darkness, The British Expert, and Living in Bondage: Breaking Free.
Source: UGC
Kenneth Okonkwo has had a successful acting career lasting decades. He is considered one of the lead actors who led to the birth of the Nollywood industry. Discover more about his life, including his political journey.
Profile summary
| Full name | Kenneth Arinzechukwu Okonkwo |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 6th November 1968 |
| Age | 54 years (as of August 2023) |
| Place of birth | Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria |
| Current residence | Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Ethnicity | African (Igbo) |
| Scorpio | Scorpio |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (187 cm) |
| Weight | 174lb (79 kg) |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Black |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Ifeoma Okonkwo |
| Ex-spouse | Ogechi Ezekiel |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | Ozioko Francis Okonkwo |
| Mother | Beatrice Okonkwo |
| Siblings | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Lagos, Nigerian Bible School |
| Profession | Actor, lawyer, film producer, theologian, and entrepreneur |
Who is Kenneth Okonkwo?
Kenneth Arinzechukwu Okonkwo is an actor, lawyer, film producer, and entrepreneur. He gained fame because of his acting skills and is considered one of Nollywood's founding members. Read Kenneth Okonkwo's biography below to learn more about him.
How old is Kenneth Okonkwo?
Kenneth Okonkwo's age is 54 years as of 2023. He was born on 6th November 1968, and his Zodiac sign is Scorpio.
Where is Kenneth Okonkwo from?
The actor is from Nigeria, and his nationality is Nigerian. He was born in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. His ethnicity is Black (Igbo).
Who are Kenneth Okonkwo's parents?
The actor's father is Ozioko Francis, and his mother is Beatrice. His known siblings are Anita and Princess. Both are professional lawyers.
What did Kenneth Okonkwo study?
After completing his primary and secondary education, the actor joined the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
Later, he joined the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he pursued International Law and Diplomacy at the University of Lagos. He was called to the Nigerian bar upon completion of the course.
He also pursued a certificate course in theology at the Nigerian Bible School. He is well-versed in religious studies.
In 2016, he was presented with the award of Professional Fellowship Doctorate in Abuja. The President of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria presented it.
Career
Kenneth started his acting career in the early 1990s. He had been featured in school plays before, which cemented his love for acting.
He is considered one of Nollywood's pioneers. He attracted public attention in 1992 after playing the lead role of Andy in Living in Bondage.
He has enjoyed a successful acting career that has lasted over three decades now. Besides acting, he is also a producer and writer. He has starred in hundreds of Nollywood films and series, and some are listed below.
| Production | Year |
| Living in Bondage | 1992 |
| Living in Bondage 2 | 1993 |
| Oganigwe | 1999 |
| The Suitors | 2000 |
| Holy Ghost Fire | 2001 |
| To Love a Thief | 2003 |
| Naomi | 2003 |
| Inheritance | 2004 |
| Beyond Reason | 2004 |
| End of Money 1 & 2 | 2005 |
| Sacred Blood | 2006 |
| The Devil in Her | 2006 |
| The Last Tradition | 2007 |
| Greatness | 2007 |
| African Soldier | 2007 |
| The Return of Ogidi | 2008 |
| Kingdom of Men | 2008 |
| King of Kings | 2009 |
| Weeping Soul 2 | 2011 |
| Heart of a Widow | 2011 |
| Heart of a Saint | 2012 |
| Amanda my Village Wife | 2015 |
| Wives on Strike | 2016 |
| Wives On Strike: The Revolution | 2017 |
| iBelieve | 2018 |
| The British Expert | 2019 |
| Living in Bondage: Breaking Free | 2019 |
Political ambitions
Okonkwo is a promising political leader. In 2018, he announced his intentions to vie for a gubernatorial set in Enugu state. He took to Instagram to break the news to his fans.
He did not secure the seat. Even so, he is optimistic about his political ambition. He was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party for a while.
APC's Kenneth Okonkwo deflected to the Labour Party on 23rd August 2022 over APC's presidential Muslim-Muslim ticket.
How rich is Kenneth Okonkwo?
The talented Nollywood actor is, without a doubt, wealthy. Most of his wealth comes from his long-running acting career. Even so, Kenneth Okonkwo's net worth remains undisclosed in the public domain.
Who is Kenneth Okonkwo's wife?
The actor is married to Ifeoma Okonkwo. He is in his second marriage. He first met Ifeoma through his mother.
The actor's mother introduced her son to Ifeoma because she thought Ifeoma would make the perfect wife for him. She praised Ifeoma and listed to her son all of Ifeoma's good qualities.
The two started dating shortly after the meeting. The relationship thrived, and the lovebirds are now married.
The actor was previously married to Ogechi Ezekiel. Ogechi is the daughter of Pastor Ezekiel, the General Overseer of Christian Pentecostal Mission International. He and Ogechi got married in 2000 and divorced about two years later.
Who are Kenneth Okonkwo's children?
The celebrated actor is a father of two. He has a son named Kenechukwu Isaac Chukwuchirimeze Okonkwo with Ifeoma. Kenechukwu was born nine years after he married Ifeoma. He is seven years old as of 2023.
He also has another son named Ifeanyi from his first marriage. Who is Kenneth Okonkwo's daughter? Contrary to what many think, the actor does not have a daughter.
Many people think that Mercy Kenneth, a young Nigerian actress, is Kenneth Okonkwo's daughter. The actress' dad shares a name with the actor, but the two are not biologically related.
How old is Kenneth Okonkwo's daughter? Mercy Kenneth is a 14-year-old actress, content creator, model, dancer, and television personality. She was born on 9th April 2009, and her Zodiac sign is Aries.
What happened to Kenneth Okonkwo?
Many people are concerned about Kenneth Okonkwo's whereabouts because he does not appear in Nollywood productions as often as he did before.
Well, the seasoned actor is currently taking up legal jobs as a professional lawyer. He is also actively involved in the Nollywood industry.
Earlier in 2023, he represented Peter Obi at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. The tribunal began pre-hearing the petitions challenging the outcome of the 25th February 2023 presidential election. Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over the presidency on 29th May 2023.
How tall is Kenneth Okonkwo?
The seasoned actor is 6 ft 1 in or 187 cm tall, and his weight is about 174lb or 79 kg. He has black hair and eyes.
Trivia
- He was honoured by the Nigerian government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his contribution to the entertainment industry.
- Many fans call him Andy, his character name in Living in Bondage.
- His son, Kenechukwu Isaac Chukwuchirimeze, is his best friend.
Kenneth Okonkwo is a seasoned Nollywood actor who has starred in hundreds of Naija movies. He is also a practising lawyer and politician.
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