Rita Edochie is a famous Nigerian actress, television personality and politician. She has been in the Nigerian film industry for over 20 years, starring in over 200 films and winning several awards.
She is also the wife of Tony Edochie, the brother of legendary actor Pete Edochie. She is known for her versatility and outstanding roles.
contour
- Full name: Rita Edochie
- Date of Birth: April 16, 1964
- Age: 60
- Gender: Female
- Birthplace: Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
- Nationality: Nigeria
- Occupation: Actress, television personality, politician
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm)
- Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Okwudili
- Siblings: Augustine Okwudili (brother), Nnoyelum Okwudili Odogwu (sister, deceased)
- Spouse: Tony Edochie
- Children: Great Valentine Edochie, Nkiru Judith Ibekwe-Edochie, Amanda Maria Abraham-Edochie, Rondy Peters Edochie
- Marital status: Married
- Net worth: $1.5 million
Early life and education
Rita Edochie was born on April 16, 1964 in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria, and is now 60 years old. She is the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Okwudili, both of whom are businessmen.
She has an elder brother named Augustine Okwudili and an elder sister named Nnoyelum Okwudili Odogwu who died in 2015. She is from the Igbo tribe, to be exact from Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria.
She attended St. John’s Primary School and All Saints Secondary School in Onitsha where she completed her primary and secondary education.
She then attended the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Communications.
Personal life
Rita Edochie’s husband is Tony Edochie, the younger brother of legendary Nigerian actor Pete Edochie.
They have been married for over 30 years and have four children: Great Valentine Edochie, Nkiru Judith Ibekwe-Edochie, Amanda Maria Abraham-Edochie and Rondy Peters Edochie.
Tony Edochie is a businessman and former radio host. Rita Edochie’s children are also involved in the entertainment industry, especially her eldest son, Big Valentine, who is a Nigerian film actor.
Rita Edochie is a Christian and a member of the Catholic Church. She is also a peace ambassador for the World Peace Alliance, a global network of individuals and organizations committed to building world peace.
She has participated in several peace initiatives such as the 2020 World Summit in South Korea, where she met with other world leaders and celebrities.
Profession
Rita Edochie started her acting career in the early 1990s when her husband’s brother, Pete Edochie, introduced her to the Nigerian film industry. She made her debut in the film Waterloo, playing the role of a nurse.
Since then, she has appeared in over 200 Nigerian films, such as Abuja Boy, Censored Love, The Tempest, The King and the Princess, The Last Funeral etc. She has also appeared in television shows such as The Johnsons, Super Story, and Family relationships.
She is known for her ability to portray a variety of roles, from comedy to drama, and she is able to convincingly portray different characters.
She has won many awards and nominations for her outstanding performance, such as the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the City People Entertainment Award for Best Actress in a Comedy, and the Africa Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award.
She is also a politician and a member of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
She contested the House of Representatives seat for Onitsha North and South Federal Constituency in the 2019 general election but lost to the incumbent, Lynda Ikpeazu.
She also publicly voiced her support for the Biafra movement, a separatist group seeking to establish an independent state for Nigeria’s Igbo ethnic group.
dispute
Rita Edochie has faced some controversies in her professional and personal life.
Some of them are:
In 2017, she was accused of a sex scandal with prominent pastor and founder of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie. She denied the allegation and threatened to sue the plaintiff, a blogger named Kemi Olunloyo, for defamation.
She also claimed that the pastor was her spiritual father and mentor and that she was not in any romantic relationship with him.
In 2020, she was criticised for refusing to forgive young comedian Ada Jesus, who allegedly insulted her and her pastor, David Ibiyeomie, on social media.
Ida Jesus, who was diagnosed with kidney disease, sought forgiveness from Rita Edochie and the pastor. However, Rita Edochie initially rejected her apology and said she would die from the disease.
Later, under pressure from the public and some celebrities, she changed her mind and forgave her. Aida Jesus eventually died of illness in April 2021.
In 2021, she came under fire for her support for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who was arrested by the Nigerian government for treason and terrorism. She posted a video on her Instagram page praying for his release and calling him a prophet.
She also called on her followers to support the Biafra movement against the Nigerian government. She faced strong backlash from some Nigerians who accused her of being unpatriotic and inciting violence.
Social Media
- Instagram account: @ritaedochie
- Twitter: @ritaedochie
Filmography
- Waterloo
- Abuja Boys
- Censorship of love
- storm
- King and Princess
- The final burial
- The Johnsons
- Super Story
- Family Relationships
- The Return of Ogidi
- Blind Orphan
- Ghosts and Touts
- million
- The Enemy I Know
- Therapist
net worth
Rita Edochie is one of the most influential actresses in Nigeria.
She has amassed a significant amount of wealth from her acting career and other ventures such as her clothing line. Her net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million.
