Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has appointed Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on entertainment, arts and culture.
Johnson’s appointment was announced, along with 62 others, in a statement issued in Lokoja today by the Secretary to the State Government ( SSG), Dr Folashade Ayoade.
The appointments take effect from April 1, says the statement.
According to Ayoade, the rationale for the appointments is to “fill key positions with the right people and to broaden inclusiveness in governance by bringing people from more communities on board”.
Fifty four of the appointees will serve as Senior Special Assistants, while nine will work as Special Assistants to the Governor as Federal Constituency Supervisors for the Governor Yahaya Bello (GYB) Connect Programme .
The SSG further stated that the appointments were made to recognise and encourage outstanding contributions to the New Direction Agenda.
“The nine Special Assistants will also act as direct liaisons between the present administration and the Local Government Ward Coordinators of the GYB Connect Programme, “ the statement says.
Mercy, born 28 August 1984, started her acting career soon after completing her secondary education when she auditioned for a role in The Maid, a movie that was to launch her into stardom.
Her outstanding performance in that movie paved the way for her into getting more roles in movies such as Hustlers, Baby Oku in America, War in the Palace, and many more.
She is now one of the most sought-after Nollywood actresses.
Mercy won the Best Actress award at Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards in 2013 for her role in a comedy movie “Dumebi the dirty girl.”
In December 2013, Johnson was listed as Google’s Most Searched Nollywood Celebrity, a position she also held in 2012.
Mercy had in 2009 also won an award for best supporting actress at the African Movie Award show.
Mercy married Prince Odianosen Okojie in 2011. The union has produced two children.
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