Nigeria’s Onitsha, in the Anambra State, is the birthplace and upbringing of renowned veteran Nollywood actress, politician, businesswoman, and television personality Rita Edochie. She is the wife of Tony Edochie, the younger brother of well-known veteran actor Pete Edochie, and has worked in the Nollywood industry for more than 20 years. The biography of Rita Edochie and all things related to the well-known actress will be covered in this piece.
Rita Edochie Biography
Early Life and Education
On April 16, 1964, Rita Edochie was born in Onitsha, Anambra State, into the Okwudili family. She was raised by her uncle, Mr. Okika, and only went back to her parents when she was almost old enough to start college. Augustine Okwudili and Nnoyelum Okwudili are her two siblings. Rita Edochie speaks Igbo fluently because she was raised in the east.
Rita received her formative education at St John Primary School and her secondary education at All Saints School, where she passed the West African Council Examination (WACE) and earned her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC). After there, she continued on to Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Akwa, where she graduated with a bachelor’s in communication.
Career
Rita obtained her first position as a broadcaster at Anambra Broadcasting duty, where she and her spouse were both employees, as soon as she graduated from college and finished her NYSC duty. Up until 1997, when she made the decision to try her hand at acting in motion pictures, she was employed by the broadcasting service. Rita continued to be quite active in her broadcasting career even as she experimented with something different in the entertainment sector. Because acting and broadcasting are related, she was able to manage both of them even after she began receiving acting jobs.
Rita Edochie started her acting career professionally after she got married to Tony Edochie, the Edochie family influence brought her this far in the industry. Rita made her acting debut in 1997 when she acted in the movie titled “Waterloo” directed by Teco Benson. Shortly after, she landed herself another role in “Evil Men” “August Meeting” and “Igodo”. Since then, she has acted in over 200 Nollywood movies, such as The King and The Princess, The Storm, Abuja Boys, Censored Love, The Last Burial, and many more. She has also been featured in The Johnsons, Super Story, and Family Ties.
Her career really took off in 2002 when she starred in six films that year and made appearances in twenty more in 2003. She has performed with numerous other actors, including Clems Ohameze, Zubby Michaels, and Ngozi Ezeonu.
Rita Ikpeazu, a politician and member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), was defeated by Lynda Ikpeazu in the 2019 general elections as she ran for the House of Representatives seat for the Onitsha North and South Federal Constituency.
Rita Edochie is a successful entrepreneur who has a flourishing fashion company in addition to her acting profession.
Rita Edochie is not only a well-known figure in the entertainment industry, but she also actively participates in charitable work.
She is the director of a foundation that supports underprivileged women and children in Nigeria.
Rita Edochie has also become more well-known as a social media influencer, amassing a sizable following on several social media networks.
Her fans appreciate her not just for her acting prowess but also for her philanthropic work and ability to inspire others to pursue their dreams.
Personal Life
In December 1990, Rita Edochie wed Tony Edochie, Pete Edochie’s younger brother, and the two are blessed with four children. She is Yul Edochie’s aunt.
Controversies
Both in her personal and professional life, Rita Edochie has been a part of a number of scandals.
Among them are:
She was charged in 2017 of having an affair with well-known pastor and Salvation Ministries founder David Ibiyeomie. She refuted the claim and vowed to bring a defamation lawsuit against the accuser, a blogger by the name of Kemi Olunloyo.
She further asserted that she had no romantic relationship with the pastor and that he was her spiritual father and mentor.
She came under fire in 2020 for allegedly being unwilling to pardon Ada Jesus, a teenage comedian, for allegedly making fun of her and her pastor, David Ibiyeomie, on social media.
Ada Jesus asked Rita Edochie and the pastor for forgiveness after receiving a renal illness diagnosis. Rita Edochie, however, initially disregarded her apology and declared that her disease would claim her life.
After pressure from the public and a few celebrities, she later had second thoughts and forgave her. In the end, Ada Jesus passed away in April 2021 from her illness.
She came under fire in 2021 for her support of Nnamdi Kanu, the head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who had been detained by the Nigerian government on charges of treason and terrorism. Calling him a prophet and pleading for his release, she shared a video on her Instagram page.
She also exhorted her supporters to oppose the Nigerian government and back the Biafra campaign. Many Nigerians reacted negatively to her, accusing her of being unpatriotic and encouraging violence.
Rita Edochie Husband
Tony Edochie is the spouse of Rita Edochie. Rita Edochie is the sister-in-law of veteran actor Pete Edochie, who is the younger brother of the actor. They have four children together and were married in December of 1990.
Filmography
- Super Story
- Family Ties
- The Return of Ogidi
- The Blind Orphan
- Waterloo
- Abuja Boys
- Censored Love
- The Ghost and The Tout
- The Millions
- The Enemy I Know
- The Therapist
- The Storm
- The King and The Princess
- The Last Burial
- The Johnsons
Rita Edochie Children
Rita has four children for her husband, her children’s names are Rondy Edochie, Great Valentine Edochie, Nkiru Edochie, and Amanda Maria. Her children have achieved success of their own with some pursuing careers in the entertainment business.
Rita Edochie Age
In 2024, Rita Edochie will be sixty years old. Her birthday is April 16, 1964.
Social Media
As of April 2024, Rita Edochie had 593k Instagram followers.
- Instagram handle: @ritaedochie
- Twitter handle: @ritaedochie
Rita Edochie Net Worth
Rita, a highly influential actress in Nollywood, is estimated to have a net worth of $1.5 million. She owns a clothes company in addition to being an actress and politician.
Read more:
- Purple Speedy Biography, Age, Sister, Boyfriend, Parents, Number, Net Worth
- Sophia Momodu Biography, Age, Parents, Boyfriend, Father, Husband, Net Worth
