Ojy Okpe is one of Nigeria’s most multidimensional public figures a woman who has excelled, with characteristic grace and sharp intelligence, across three demanding creative and professional arenas: international modelling, Hollywood film production, and broadcast journalism.
Born Ojinika Anne Egwuenu in Lagos, Nigeria, she was discovered as a teenager by a South African talent scout, competed as a finalist in the celebrated Mnet Face of Africa competition, modelled across three continents, appeared on Hollywood film sets, produced Emmy Award-winning documentary content, founded her own production company, and built a powerful on-air presence as a news anchor and features host on Arise News one of Africa’s most prominent English-language broadcast networks.
Poised, intelligent, and deeply committed to telling African stories to the world, Ojy Okpe represents a generation of Nigerian women who have taken their talent global and brought the proceeds in skill, credibility, and vision firmly back home.
| Ojinika Anne Egwuenu (married name: Ojinika Anne Okpe) | |
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Ojinika Anne Egwuenu (married name: Ojinika Anne Okpe): History · Bio · Photo
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Full Name: | Ojinika Anne Egwuenu (married name: Ojinika Anne Okpe) |
| Stage Name: | Ojy Okpe |
| Born: | April 23, 1981 |
| Age: | 45 years old |
| Birthplace: | Lagos, Nigeria (raised across Nigeria due to father's postings) |
| State of Origin: | Delta State, Nigeria (Ukwani) |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Occupation: | Television Anchor, Journalist, Film Producer, Model, Filmmaker |
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Matthew Egwuenu (Former Nigerian Commissioner of Police, deceased) |
| Siblings: | Five siblings |
| Spouse: | Austin Okpe (Nigerian businessman and ex-US Marine, based in the USA; divorced 2014) |
| Children: | Two – Augustine Okpe (son) and Earth Okpe (daughter) |
| Relationship: | Divorced / Single |
| Net Worth: | $1 million – $2 million (2026) |
Early Life
Ojy Okpe was born Ojinika Anne Egwuenu on April 23, 1981, in Lagos State, Nigeria. She originates from Ukwani in Delta State one of the culturally rich communities of the Niger Delta region and is of Urhobo ethnic heritage.
Her upbringing was shaped by the nature of her father’s career: Matthew Egwuenu was a senior officer who rose to the rank of Commissioner of Police in the Nigerian Police Force, a position that required the family to relocate across different states of Nigeria. As a result, Ojy grew up moving between cities and regions, together with her five siblings, gaining a breadth of Nigerian cultural exposure that would later inform both her storytelling instincts and her cosmopolitan outlook.
The Egwuenu household was one defined by discipline, public service, and a strong sense of responsibility values instilled by a father whose career placed him at the heart of Nigeria’s law enforcement apparatus. Both her father Matthew and her mother Philomena Ngozi Egwuenu have since passed away, a loss that Ojy has referred to in interviews with evident emotion.
Despite the peripatetic nature of her childhood, Ojy was a focused and creatively inclined young person who from an early age was drawn to the idea of working in front of a camera whether in fashion, film, or television. She has described her career path as always having been oriented towards the camera, transitioning through its different forms as opportunity and ambition dictated.
By her mid-teens, Ojy was already turning heads. Tall, striking, and poised, she possessed the natural physical attributes that the fashion industry covets combined with an intelligence and self-possession that would set her apart from peers throughout her career.
She started her entertainment career as a model at the age of 16, with the full encouragement of her mother, who supported her daughter’s ambitions wholeheartedly from the very beginning.
Education
Ojy Okpe received her primary school education at St. Bernadette Catholic School in Abeokuta, Ogun State one of the cities her family lived in during her father’s postings.
She then attended the Federal Government Girls’ College, Benin City in Edo State, where she completed her secondary school certificate education another reflection of the geographic mobility that characterised her formative years.
For her university education, Ojy pursued higher studies in the United States. She was admitted to St. John’s University in New York City, where she studied on a scholarship and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication and a minor in Film Production, a degree combination that elegantly bridged her twin passions for storytelling and cinema.
The combination of communication theory and practical film production training gave her a rigorous foundation for the multi-platform media career she would go on to build.
She subsequently also studied at the New York Film Academy, deepening her technical understanding of filmmaking and further equipping herself for the production work that would become a significant dimension of her professional portfolio. The dual film education at St. John’s and the New York Film Academy positioned her uniquely as someone who understood both the intellectual and the craft dimensions of the medium.
Career
Modelling Career
Ojy Okpe’s modelling career began with a discovery that could easily have gone unnoticed. At the age of 17, she was spotted by Jan Malan, a South African talent scout, who recognised her exceptional potential and entered her into the Mnet Face of Africa competition one of the most prestigious and visible modelling contests on the African continent.
Though she did not win the competition outright, she reached the finals in Ghana, and that appearance alone was sufficient to establish her as a credible international modelling prospect. The Face of Africa platform, known for launching the careers of some of Africa’s most successful supermodels including Oluchi Onweagba gave Ojy the visibility she needed to make her next move.
She secured a contract with Storm Model Management, one of the world’s most respected modelling agencies, known for representing some of the industry’s biggest names and relocated to South Africa to pursue modelling work. The results were immediate and impressive.
Within weeks of beginning her work in South Africa, she was gracing the pages of elite publications including Elle, Cosmopolitan, Drum, and True Love, and was walking the runway at South Africa Fashion Week. Her 5-foot-11-inch frame, her refined bearing, and her ability to project both elegance and personality on camera made her a natural for the high-end fashion work she was doing.
With a strong portfolio established in South Africa, Ojy relocated to New York arguably the global capital of the fashion industry and quickly established herself as a sought-after model in the American market.
She became the muse and face of Gottex, the iconic Israeli-American luxury swimwear brand one of the most recognised names in high-end beachwear globally. The Gottex association gave her sustained international exposure and connected her to the upper echelons of the American fashion world.
She also became the face of L’Oreal’s Mizani brand in Africa, a prestigious ambassadorial role for one of the world’s largest beauty companies and one that cemented her status as a leading representative of African beauty in global commercial spaces.
Her runway work took her from Lagos to New York, and she appeared in major fashion productions and campaigns on multiple continents.
Film Production Career
Even while excelling as a model, Ojy Okpe was quietly building the infrastructure of a second career in film production.
Her initial aspiration was to serve as a bridge between Nollywood and Hollywood bringing the two film industries into creative and commercial dialogue and she founded her production company, Third Mainland Productions, with that vision in mind.
The company name was a deliberate invocation of Lagos’s Third Mainland Bridge, one of the longest bridges in Africa and a symbol of connection the perfect metaphor for what she hoped to build between Nigeria and the international film world.
Through Third Mainland Productions and her own involvement as a production department professional, Ojy worked on a series of major Hollywood productions in New York. She is credited in the production department of several significant films, including:
- The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – the iconic Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway fashion industry drama
- Spider-Man 3 (2007) – the blockbuster superhero sequel
- Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) – the Isla Fisher-led romantic comedy, for which she also appeared as an extra
Her documentary production work earned her the most formally recognised accolade of her film career. She was part of the production crew for the documentary Changers: How the Harlem Globetrotters Battled Racism, which won the Emmy Award at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 58th Annual New York Emmy Awards. Being part of an Emmy-winning production was a landmark milestone that validated her transition from model to filmmaker and underscored her seriousness as a content creator.
She also produced mini-biography documentaries on internationally celebrated artists, including Grammy Award-winning singer Ciara and acclaimed artist Janelle Monáe, bringing her African perspective and storytelling skills to bear on some of the most significant figures in American popular culture.
More recently, Ojy has evolved her production ambitions through a new company called Africa Shape, which is focused on telling stories that celebrate African heroes and achievements an expansion of her original vision that now places Africa, rather than the Nollywood-Hollywood bridge, at the very centre of her storytelling mission.
Television and Journalism Career
Ojy Okpe’s pivot into broadcast journalism began in September 2013, when she joined Arise News as a Field Producer for the network’s entertainment channel, Arise 360.
Her transition from producer to on-air talent was a natural progression, given her communication training, her on-camera experience from modelling, and her deep understanding of the storytelling craft. She quickly established herself as an authoritative and engaging on-screen presence.
She rose to become one of Arise News’s most recognisable anchors, hosting her popular segment What’s Trending with Ojy Okpe, a daily features slot on the Arise Morning Show that covers trending news, entertainment, lifestyle, and cultural topics with a blend of insight, personality, and journalistic rigour.
She also co-anchors the Good Morning Show alongside senior journalists including Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni, Ayo Mairo-Ese, and Steve Ayorinde (on Sundays). The Morning Show is one of Arise News’s flagship programmes and reaches audiences across Africa and in the Nigerian diaspora globally.
Her segment has attracted a loyal following both on live TV and on YouTube, where viewers are drawn to the compelling and nuanced way she frames stories and offers contextual analysis of the day’s trending news. She has conducted high-profile exclusive interviews and has been recognised by peers and industry observers as one of Nigeria’s finest broadcast journalists of her generation.
In recognition of her journalistic work, she was named Investigative Journalist of the Year, a recognition that speaks to the depth and rigour she brings to her reporting beyond the trending news format. She was also the Master of Ceremony at the prestigious 82nd Golden Globe Awards red carpet coverage for Arise News, at the Thisday Awards 30th Anniversary, and at the Arise News 12th Anniversary, high-profile hosting roles that confirmed her status as one of the most polished media personalities operating out of Nigeria.
In September 2025, Ojy made headlines when she engaged in a spirited on-air exchange with fellow Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni during a segment about the Department of State Services and its involvement in activist Omoyele Sowore’s case a discussion that touched on President Bola Tinubu’s prior legal history.
The exchange, which Arise News subsequently removed from public circulation, exposed internal tensions and generated significant public discussion about editorial independence and the role of personal perspective in news analysis. The episode drew polarised reactions in Nigeria’s politically charged media environment, highlighting how significant and consequential her on-air voice had become.
Awards & Nominations
- Emmy Award Winner – National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, 58th Annual New York Emmy Awards – Production crew member on the documentary Changers: How the Harlem Globetrotters Battled Racism
- Investigative Journalist of the Year – Award recognising her journalism work at Arise News
- Finalist – Mnet Face of Africa Competition (a pivotal career-launching recognition)
- Master of Ceremony – 82nd Golden Globe Awards red carpet coverage for Arise News
- Master of Ceremony – Thisday Awards 30th Anniversary
- Master of Ceremony – Arise News 12th Anniversary
- Face of L’Oreal’s Mizani brand in Africa
- Muse and face of luxury swimwear brand Gottex (New York)
Social Media
Ojy Okpe is active on several social media platforms, where she engages with her audience on news, current affairs, lifestyle topics, and personal milestones.
Her social media presence reflects her dual identity as a serious journalist and a warm, stylish public personality and she uses her platforms to extend the reach of her Arise News work, share her views on African stories, and maintain a direct dialogue with followers who have come to trust and value her perspective.
- Instagram: @ojyokpe
- Twitter / X: @ojyokpe
- LinkedIn: @ojy-okpe
- Website: ojyokpe.com
Personal Life
Ojy Okpe was married to Austin Okpe, a wealthy Nigerian-American businessman and former US Marine with roots in Delta State, Nigeria. Austin Okpe is known for being a successful entrepreneur based in the United States, where he lived in a multimillion-dollar mansion.
He is also the younger brother of the Charisma twins Nina Agwuna and Muka Nwokedi giving the Okpe family a notable connection to Nigeria’s social elite.
Ojy and Austin married around 2004 and the marriage lasted approximately a decade before the couple divorced in 2014. Despite the separation, the marriage produced two children: a son, Augustine Okpe, and a daughter, Earth Okpe.
Both children are reportedly now at university in the United States, a point of visible pride for Ojy, who has continued to raise them and support their education as a single mother while maintaining her demanding professional schedule. Austin Okpe has since remarried.
Ojy has spoken about balancing motherhood with a multi-career professional life with characteristic candour acknowledging the challenges while making clear that her children remain her highest priority. She has managed the transition from married life in America to single life as a working journalist and filmmaker with resilience and visible purpose.
Among her closest friends are two of Nigeria’s most celebrated women: Genevieve Nnaji, the iconic Nollywood actress, filmmaker, and global cultural ambassador and Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi, the supermodel whose own Face of Africa win launched one of the most celebrated international modelling careers produced by the African continent.
The three women have been publicly photographed on multiple vacations together and represent a remarkable convergence of Nigerian female excellence across modelling, acting, and media. Their friendship speaks to Ojy’s position within the inner circle of Nigeria’s most accomplished women.
Ojy Okpe is deeply invested in the idea of using storytelling to uplift African narratives on the global stage. Her production company Africa Shape reflects this its focus is on celebrating African heroes and telling African stories with the depth, nuance, and production quality they deserve. She has expressed a desire not merely to cover African news from a studio, but to actively shape the global narrative about Africa through content creation and documentary filmmaking.
Net Worth
Ojy Okpe’s estimated net worth as of 2026 is approximately $1 million to $2 million.
Her wealth has been accumulated across three decades of professional activity spanning international modelling, Hollywood film production, Emmy Award-winning documentary work, brand ambassadorship, and a sustained career in broadcast journalism at one of Africa’s leading news networks.
Her income streams include her salary as a senior anchor and journalist at Arise News; fees from her production companies (Third Mainland Productions and Africa Shape); past income from modelling campaigns and brand endorsements, including her work as the face of L’Oreal’s Mizani in Africa and as the muse of Gottex swimwear; hosting fees for major events including the Golden Globe Awards red carpet coverage; and her growing digital content presence.
As her journalism career continues to grow in influence and her production ambitions expand through Africa Shape, her professional footprint and earning power is likely to continue its upward trajectory.
Filmography
Hollywood Film Production Credits
- The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – Production department crew (Hollywood film)
- Spider-Man 3 (2007) – Production department crew (Hollywood blockbuster)
- Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) – Production department crew and extra (Hollywood romantic comedy)
- American Mirror: Intimations of Immortality – Documentary (producer)
- Changers: How the Harlem Globetrotters Battled Racism – Emmy Award-winning documentary (production crew)
Documentary Profiles Produced
- Mini-biography documentary on Grammy Award winner Ciara
- Mini-biography documentary on Janelle Monáe
Television – Arise News
- Arise 360 – Entertainment Channel (Field Producer, from September 2013)
- What’s Trending with Ojy Okpe – Daily segment, Arise Morning Show (Host)
- Good Morning Show – Arise News (Co-Anchor, weekdays and Sundays)
- 82nd Golden Globe Awards – Red carpet coverage host for Arise News
FAQs
Who is Ojy Okpe?
Ojy Okpe (born Ojinika Anne Egwuenu on April 23, 1981) is a Nigerian television anchor, journalist, film producer, and international model. She is best known as the host of What’s Trending with Ojy Okpe and co-anchor of the Good Morning Show on Arise News. She is also an Emmy Award winner as part of the production crew of the documentary Changers: How the Harlem Globetrotters Battled Racism.
How old is Ojy Okpe?
Ojy Okpe was born on April 23, 1981, making her 44 years old as of 2025.
Where is Ojy Okpe from?
Ojy Okpe hails from Ukwani in Delta State, Nigeria, and is of Urhobo ethnic heritage. She was born in Lagos State and grew up across multiple Nigerian cities due to her father’s career as a police officer.
Who was Ojy Okpe’s husband?
Ojy Okpe was married to Austin Okpe, a wealthy Nigerian businessman and former US Marine based in the United States. The couple married around 2004 and divorced in 2014. They have two children together a son named Augustine Okpe and a daughter named Earth Okpe.
Does Ojy Okpe have children?
Yes. Ojy Okpe has two children with her ex-husband Austin Okpe: a son named Augustine Okpe and a daughter named Earth Okpe. Both are reportedly studying at university in the United States.
What is Ojy Okpe known for in modelling?
Ojy Okpe rose to prominence after being discovered at age 17 by South African talent scout Jan Malan and reaching the finals of the Mnet Face of Africa competition. She was signed by Storm Model Management, became the muse of luxury swimwear brand Gottex in New York, was the face of L’Oreal’s Mizani brand in Africa, and appeared in major magazines including Elle, Cosmopolitan, Drum, and True Love.
What Hollywood films did Ojy Okpe work on?
Through her production company Third Mainland Productions, Ojy worked on the production departments of several major Hollywood films, including The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Spider-Man 3 (2007), and Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009).
Did Ojy Okpe win an Emmy Award?
Yes. Ojy Okpe was part of the production crew of the documentary Changers: How the Harlem Globetrotters Battled Racism, which won the Emmy Award at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 58th Annual New York Emmy Awards.
What is Ojy Okpe’s net worth?
Ojy Okpe’s estimated net worth is between $1 million and $2 million, earned through international modelling, Hollywood film production, brand endorsements, and her senior journalism and anchoring role at Arise News.
Who are Ojy Okpe’s famous friends?
Ojy Okpe’s closest friends include Nollywood icon Genevieve Nnaji and internationally celebrated supermodel Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi two of the most accomplished Nigerian women of their generation. The three are known to holiday together and have been photographed at various international destinations.
What is Ojy Okpe’s production company?
Ojy Okpe originally founded Third Mainland Productions to bridge Nollywood and Hollywood. She has since evolved her production vision through Africa Shape a newer company focused on telling stories that celebrate African heroes and showcase African narratives to a global audience.
Conclusion
Ojy Okpe is a rare Nigerian public figure who has not merely succeeded in one field but genuinely excelled across three modelling, film production, and journalism without allowing any one identity to eclipse the others.
From her discovery as a teenager on the streets of Nigeria to her Emmy Award-winning work on American documentary television, from the Gottex swimwear campaigns of New York to the morning studios of Arise News in Lagos, she has navigated her career with an uncommon combination of aesthetic vision, intellectual rigour, and professional discipline.
As a single mother of two, a senior journalist at one of Africa’s leading news networks, an Emmy-winning producer, and the founder of Africa Shape a production company dedicated to elevating African stories Ojy Okpe embodies a kind of Nigerian female excellence that deserves far more recognition than it typically receives. She is, in the truest sense, a woman who has made the world her stage and Nigeria her constant, beating heart. The What’s Trending host who crafts her stories with such care every morning is, behind that camera, someone whose own story is every bit as compelling as the ones she tells.
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