Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has appointed popular Nollywood actresses, Rachael Okonkwo and Eucharia Anunobi, as political aides as part of a fresh round of appointments into the State Government.
The appointments, announced on Monday, September 21, 2026, placed the two actresses in different roles, with Okonkwo assigned responsibilities connected to the film and creative sector, while veteran actress, Anunobi, was given a women mobilisation portfolio covering the Enugu-North zone.
The development was contained in a public service announcement signed by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia.
According to the announcement, Governor Mbah approved the appointment of 101 aides comprising seven Special Advisers, six Senior Special Assistants and 88 Special Assistants. The appointments took effect immediately.
Rachael Okonkwo Gets Creative Industry Portfolio
Rachael Okonkwo, widely recognised by her screen name, Nkoli Nwa Nsukka, was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Film and Creative Industry Development.
Her appointment gives her a Government role directly connected to the entertainment and creative sector, an area in which she has built a career spanning acting and other creative activities.
Okonkwo is particularly known for her leading role in the popular Nkoli Nwa Nsukka film series, which helped establish her as a recognisable face in Nollywood. Her official biography identifies her as a Nollywood actress and public speaker and notes that she gained prominence following her breakout role in Nkoli Nwa Nsukka.
The actress is from Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, making her appointment particularly notable within the context of the State’s creative industry.
Her career in Nollywood dates back to the 2000s. In an interview, Okonkwo recounted that she entered the movie industry before temporarily moving into dancing after struggling to secure significant acting opportunities. She later returned to acting, with Nkoli Nwa Nsukka becoming a major turning point in her career.
The new Government assignment places her in a position where her experience in the entertainment industry could be brought into public-sector efforts relating to film and creative development.
The appointment also comes at a time when creative industries continue to feature prominently in discussions around employment, youth engagement and economic opportunities in Nigeria.
Eucharia Anunobi Named Women Mobilisation Aide
Veteran Nollywood actress, Eucharia Anunobi, was appointed Special Assistant on Women Mobilisation for the Enugu-North Zone.
Unlike Okonkwo’s portfolio, which is specifically focused on the creative sector, Anunobi’s assignment is centred on women mobilisation and community engagement within the Enugu-North Zone.
Anunobi has been a prominent figure in Nollywood for several decades. She gained widespread recognition through roles in films including the Glamour Girls series and Abuja Connection, and has appeared in more than 90 films, according to biographical records about her career.
Beyond acting, Anunobi has also become known for her Christian ministry and work as an evangelist. Her career has therefore extended beyond the Nigerian film industry into religious and public-facing activities.
Her new appointment gives her a government-facing role involving women mobilisation in one of the State’s zones.
Mbah Appoints 101 Aides
The appointments involving the two Nollywood stars were part of a broader list of 101 appointments approved by Governor Mbah.
The seven Special Advisers appointed under the latest exercise include Chief S.N.C. Nwagu, assigned to Conflict Resolution and Mediation; Dr. Fidelis Odo, Inter-Governmental Affairs and Coordination; Augustine Okoli, Policy Affairs and Analysis; Pedro Nwankwo, Stakeholders Relations and Community Affairs; Chimezie Nkwuo, Economic Development; Chief Vitalis Okonkwo, Grassroots Coordination; and Peter Andy Omeje, Commerce and Business Development.
The six Senior Special Assistants include Okonkwo, who will handle Film and Creative Industry Development, as well as Okey Ude, assigned to Inter-Party and Mobilisation; Chinedu Chukwunwike, Party Monitoring; Peter Chukwujekwu Ogbe, Legal and Regulatory Compliance; Chukwudi Ozoeluba, Boundary and Land Dispute Resolution; and Frank Udemezue, Small and Medium Enterprise Development.
The 88 Special Assistants were assigned responsibilities across a broad range of areas, including women mobilisation, youth engagement, community relations, environmental management, infrastructure monitoring, social media, civic education, voter awareness, security intelligence, technology and innovation, rural development and government communication.
The Government announcement stated that the appointments took immediate effect.
Creative Industry Takes Centre Stage
Okonkwo’s appointment is particularly significant because it gives an established Nollywood figure a formal role within the State Government’s creative-sector structure.
The entertainment industry has become an important part of Nigeria’s cultural identity and economic activity, while Enugu has historically played a major role in the development of Nollywood.
Enugu has long been associated with the Nigerian film industry, particularly through the activities of filmmakers, actors and production companies based in the South-East. The appointment of an actress with strong ties to the State into a portfolio specifically focused on film and creative industry development could therefore place entertainment among the areas receiving direct administrative attention.
For Anunobi, the new role shifts her public responsibilities into the area of women mobilisation, adding a Government appointment to a career that has already included acting, producing and evangelism.
The latest appointments bring the two actresses into Governor Mbah’s administration alongside a large group of aides assigned to specialised portfolios.
With the appointments taking immediate effect, Okonkwo and Anunobi are now expected to operate within their respective mandates as members of the Enugu State Government team.