Mercy Johnson Biography: Age, Children, Husband, and Net Worth

Mercy Johnson Okojie (born 28 August 1984) is a Nigerian Actress, politician, and entrepreneur. Commonly known as Mercy Johnson or MJ who hails from Okene in Kogi State. Mercy Johnson was born in Lagos State to a former naval officer, Daniel Johnson and his wife Elizabeth.

She stands as one of the most controversial actresses in Nigeria. She is surrounded by all types of critics both in her movies and in real life. The 39-year-old actress made her debut in the Nollywood industry in 2003 when she was featured in the movie, The Maid, where she played a possessed Nanny role. This first movie role brought her to the limelight as she played a major role in the movie. Ever since, she has attracted multiple movie producers and evidently, has appeared in many more movies.

Beyond her career, the actress is happily married to Prince Odianosen Okojie, and they have four kids, three girls and a boy. She has been doing well as an actress, comedian, entrepreneur, wife, and mother to her kids. Find out more about her and her age accomplishments.

Mercy Johnson’s Profile Summary   

  • Full Name: Mercy Johnson Ozioma Okojie
  • Nickname: MJ, Mercy
  • Gender: Female
  • Date of Birth: August 28, 1984
  • Mercy Johnson’s Age: 39 years old
  • Place of Birth: Lagos State
  • Nationality: Nigerian
  • State of Origin: Kogi State
  • Zodiac Sign: Virgo
  • Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
  • Religion: Christian
  • Education: Nigerian Navy Primary School, Lagos State, Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Rivers State
  • Marital Status: Married  (m. 2011)
  • Mercy Johnson’s Husband: Prince Odianosen Okojie
  • Mercy Johnson’s Children: 4 (Purity, Henry, Angel, and Divine-Mercy)
  • Mercy Johnson’s Parents: Mr. Daniel Johnson and Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson
  • Siblings: 6, including Joseph Junior Johnson
  • Mercy Johnson’s Height in Inches: 5’7″
  • Mercy Johnson’s Height in Centimetres: 170
  • Mercy Johnson’s Weight: 83kg
  • Body measurements in inches: 34, 28, 35 (Bust, Waist, Hip)
  • Body measurements in centimeters: 87cm, 72cm, 89cm
  • Mercy Johnson’s Net worth: $2 million
  • Famous for: Acting
  • Mercy Johnson’s Instagram: @mercyjohnsonokojie
  • Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MercyJohnsonOkojie/

How Old is Mercy Johnson?

Mercy Johnson is 39 years old in 2024. She was born on August 28, 1984, in Lagos State, Nigeria, to Mr. Daniel Johnson, former naval officer, and Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson. Mercy Johnson grew up in a family of seven children, where she is the fourth child. She has three older sisters and three younger brothers, and they originally hail from Okene in Kogi State.

Mercy spent her childhood in various barracks with her father, who was constantly transferred due to his job as military personnel. As one who has attained a certain level of success in life, MJ had a tough upbringing.

The Actress Did not Complete Her University Education

Mercy Johnson attended her primary and secondary school education in different states due to the nature of her father’s job. He was a Naval officer at that point and took her with him whenever he was transferred. She started her primary school education in Cross River State and finished it at Nigerian Navy Academy Lagos State. For her secondary school education, she began in a secondary school at a Rivers State Secondary School and completed it at the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Rivers State.

She dropped out of school several times for financial reasons. There were difficulties in paying for her school fees, and speaking of school, she started acting because she failed the University entrance examination. It is true she failed her first attempt at entering the university, but she took the entrance exam again. She got admission into the Lagos State University to study English. However, because of her acting career and money issues, she had to defer her admission after studying for one year.

Mercy Johnson Did Not Have A Rosy Childhood

On various occasions, while they were growing up, she hawked drinking water and other food items and has served as a housemaid to help make ends meet. Her younger brother had to work as a bricklayer at some point to feed the family. This was one of the reasons why she rather continued her acting career than go back to school.

The family was staying in an uncompleted building when she started acting. Her first earnings as an actress were used to better the lives of her family members. It was because of this that she decided to continue acting instead of continuing her education. There isn’t much on her parents and siblings. She lost her mother in May 2018. Her younger brother, Joseph Junior Johnson, is also an actor.

Does Mercy Johnson Have a Twin Sister?

Mercy Johnson does not have a twin sister. Sny report to that effect is simply unverified internet speculations. Mercy Johnson has six siblings, comprising three brothers and sisters. One of her brothers is Joseph Junior Johnson, who is also an actor. They both love each other very much. When Joseph celebrated his birthday on the 7th of August 2022, Mercy surprised him with a cake at a filming location, and he was quite pleased. Joseph on his own part uses his Instagram account to promote his sister’s movies.

Age Accomplishments of Mercy Johnson

From the age of 19, Mercy Johnson started fending for herself and her family. She started her life-long career as an actress, and from there, all other achievements came her way. Here’s a breakdown of all her age accomplishments.

She Started Her Acting Career at the Age of 19 

As mentioned earlier, Mercy Johnson started her acting career immediately after she left secondary school. She would have continued with her university education if not for funds. When a friend told her about acting, she decided to try it out. Unlike other Nollywood actors, she started her career with a major role. Mercy Johnson’s first movie was ‘The Maid.’ Her excellent performance in the movie launched her into stardom and paved the way for a successful career in Nollywood.

Johnson started with one movie, then 50, and today, she can boast of over 200 movies to her name. Some of the other movies she has featured in include HustlersBaby Oku in AmericaWar in the Palace. Her roles and contributions to the movie industry have earned her a name and fortune. She has received a few awards in the process, also.

Over the years, the flamboyant actress has been active in the movie industry. Her brilliant ability to act in any role has made her the favorite among fans and a well-sorted actress. To remain relevant in the industry, she has diversified; she now does other things apart from acting.

Mercy Johnson Started Producing Movies at the age of 36

Actress Mercy Johnson started a career in movie production in 2019 and released her first self-produced movie in January 2020. The first movie she produced is The Legend of Inkpi, an epic movie. The movie was set in the ancient cultures of the people of Benin and Igala. It stars actors and actresses like Ada Ameh, Sam Dede, Paul Obazele, among other famous actors and actresses.

List of Mercy Johnson Best Movies

Since her debut in the movie industry, Mercy has starred in over 200 movies and has produced a few others. Among the movies she has acted in are;

Year Movie Title
2004 House Party
2005 Women in Power
2005 Kill the Bride
2006 Under the Sky
2006 Sweet Mama
2007 She Is my Sister
2007 Keziah
2007 The Scorpion God
2008 The Gods are Wise
2008 Soul of A Maiden
2008 Sexy Girls
2009 Guilty Pleasures
2009 Royal Tears
2009 Clash of Twins
2009 Entanglement
2010 A Cry For Justice
2011 Mirror of Life
2011 Gallant Babes
2012 World of the Mind
2013 Baby Oku in America
2014 Hustlers
2015 Thy Will Be Done
2016 Light Will Come
2017 16th Anniversary
2018 Seven and A Half Dates
2019 Mmasi: The Arrogant Preacher
2020 The New Normal
2021 A Naija Christmas
2022 Battle On Buka Street
2022 Passport
See also  A Breakdown of Alexx Ekubo’s Net Worth and Highest Grossing Movies to Date

Other Endeavours Undertaken By Mercy Johnson

She is into many other things aside from acting and producing. Some of these things are comedy shows and businesses. On the one hand, Mercy does comedy skits with her children and the comedian Zicsaloma (Isaac Aloma Junior). On the other hand, she is an entrepreneur. Mercy owns a slimming and detox tea product, among other businesses.

She Was Given a Political Appointment at the Age of 33

In 2017 Mercy was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Entertainment, Arts, and Culture to the governor of Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello. She combines this position with all her other endeavors. She still acts, does her comedy, and manages her business well. She is not one of those that would pause their life because of a governmental position. Instead, she shows that her career in the entertainment industry is first and keeps her busy no matter what.

At 25, Mercy Johnson Collected Her First Award

The ace actress Mercy Johnson collected her first award as an actress for her contributions to the movie industry when she was 25 years old. Since then, she has continued to receive several other awards and nominations. Here is a list of the awards and nominations she has bagged so far.

Awards

  • Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the 2009 5th Africa Movie Academy Awards
  • Best Supporting Actress in 2009 Best of Nollywood Awards
  • Best Actress in Leading Role in the 2012 Nollywood Movies Awards
  • Best Actress in Comedy in the 2013 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards
  • Popular Choice Female in the 2014 Nollywood Movies Awards
  • Actress of the Year in the 2018 ELOY Awards

Nominations

Some of her nominations include the following.

  • Best Actress in the 2009 Nigeria Entertainment Awards
  • Best Actress-West Collaboration in the 2010 Ghana Movie Awards
  • Best Actress-Africa Collaboration in the 2011 Ghana Movie Awards
  • Best Actress-Viewers Choice in the 2012 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards
  • Best Actress in Leading Role in the 2013 Nollywood Movie Awards
  • Best Comedic Act in the 2014 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards
  • Best Actress-Africa Collaboration in the 2015 Ghana Movie Awards

Mercy Johnson Got Married to Prince Odianosen Okojie at 27

Mercy Johnson officially tied the knot in 2011, when she got married to Prince Odianosen Okojie, popularly known as Odi. The grand wedding ceremony was held at Christ Embassy, Oregun, Ikeja. The traditional marriage was held on August 26 at Iyana Iba Lagos State. As expected, many dignitaries, including Nollywood stars and top government officials, were in attendance. Her chief bridesmaid, Ghanaian star actress, Yvonne Nelson, and other Ghanaian celebrities graced the occasion.

Meanwhile, Prince Odianosen has been previously married to Lovelyn, and they had two kids before the marriage crashed. Despite Prince Odi’s first failed marriage, Johnson continues to lead a peaceful, happy life with him and their four kids, and the actress loves her family so much. She has voiced her stance on her life’s scale of preference: family first!

Who are Mercy Johnson’s Children?

Mercy Johnson’s children are Purity Ozioma, Henry, Angel, and Divine Mercy Okojie. The actress and her husband, Prince Odianosen Okojie, are blessed with three daughters and one son, namely Purity Ozioma Okojie (December 30, 2012), Henry Okojie (October 15, 2014), Angel Okojie (December 11, 2016), and Divine Mercy Okojie (May 4, 2020). Mercy Johnson is very fond of all her kids and never hesitates to show them off on social media. In an interview, she explained that she loves her kids so much. Even with her tight schedule as an actress, and other businesses she is into, she never hesitates to spend quality time with her children and family.

Summary of Mercy Johnson Okojie’s Age Milestones 

Mercy Johnson Okojie is an actress who knows her onions in the Nigerian entertainment industry. She started early in the industry, and here are her accomplishments so far.

  • At the age of 19, she joined the Nigerian Movie Industry
  • At 25, she received her first award for her contributions to the entertainment industry
  • At 27, Mercy Johnson got married to Prince Odi
  • She became a first-time mother at the age of 28
  • She received a political appointment at the age of 33
  • When she was 36 years old, the actress began a career in movie production

Some of the Controversies She Has Courted

Over the years, Mercy Johnson had courted some controversies. This is common with celebrities, and they always come out of them clean. Let’s look at some of the controversies Mercy Johnson has courted and how she came out of them.

The Ban

Mercy Johnson and eight other Nigerian actors and actresses were once banned from acting for being too expensive. On November 3, 2013, the movie marketers of Nollywood threatened to prohibit her from the industry due to her high demands. She and co-Nollywood stars such as Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Richard Mofe Damijo, Emeka Ike, Ramsey Nouah, Nkem Owoh, Stella Damasus, and Jim Iyke were prohibited from acting for reportedly demanding outrageous pay raise per movie.

However, following an apology rendered by actress Mercy Johnson, the ban was lifted by marketers/producers on March 9, 2014, and she continued her acting career.

Husband Snatching Saga

In 2011, Mercy Johnson was accused of snatching Odi away from his wife, Lovelyn. The rumors had it that while she was dating Odi, he was still married to Lovelyn. It happened that Prince Odi signed the divorce papers with his ex-wife 72 hours before getting married to Mercy Johnson. The controversy surrounding the previous marriage wanted to hinder his marriage with Mercy, but it didn’t work. They successfully got married on the appointed day amidst tight security. The marriage has spanned 10 years and is still counting.

Controversy With Tonto Dikeh

Tonto Dikeh called Mercy Johnson all sorts of names and insulted her publicly in 2013 after giving birth to her daughter. Tonto said Mercy was too quick to return to acting after giving birth. She also said that they were going bankrupt that’s why her husband pushed her to go back and start making money a few months after giving birth. In the post, Tonto also called Mercy’s child a witch.

Fans blasted her, but she continued ranting with her insults. Later in 2017, after having her baby, Tonto Dikeh took to her Instagram page to apologize to Mercy Johnson over what she said about her and her baby years ago.

Mercy Johnson is a Philanthropist

The Nollywood star founded the Mercy Johnson Foundation. This foundation is aimed at supporting children and widows who are less privileged. On December 23, 2013, Mercy Johnson donated livelihood materials to 5,000 Widows in Uromi, her husband’s hometown. The materials included foodstuff, blankets, and Khangas. Knowing where she is coming from, Mercy would not want to see people suffer when she could help them.

FAQs

Who is Mercy Johnson?

Mercy Johnson is an award-winning Nigerian actress and producer. She is popular for movies such as Dumebi the Dirty Girl, A Naija Christmas, Battle on Buka Street, etc.

Where is Mercy Johnson From?

Mercy Johnson is from Okene Town in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State. Back in 2017, the governor of Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello, appointed her as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Entertainment, Arts, and Culture.

What is Mercy Johnson’s Net Worth?

Mercy Johnson’s net worth is $2 million, and she made it from her acting and producer career. Investments and endorsement deals with the likes of Globacom, Power Oil, Henod Luxury Homes, Hollandia Milk, and Tiger Foods Ltd also played a part.

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