Peter Mbah

Two familiar faces from Nollywood are taking on new roles outside the movie set. Popular actresses Rachael Okonkwo and Eucharia Anunobi have been appointed as aides to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, joining a wider group of newly appointed officials in the state government.

The appointments were announced on Monday, September 21, by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia. It takes immediate effect and form part of a wider restructuring involving 101 Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants, according to reports based on the government announcement.

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For the two actresses, however, their new responsibilities are very different.

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Rachael Okonkwo Takes on Creative Industry Role

Rachael Okonkwo, popularly known as Nkoli Nwa Nsukka, has been appointed Senior Special Assistant on Film and Creative Industry Development. The appointment places the Nollywood actress in a government role directly connected to the industry in which she has built her career.

Okonkwo, whose full name is Nnenna Rachael Okonkwo, hails from Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State and is known for her work in the Nigerian film industry, particularly the Nkoli Nwa Nsukka series.

Her portfolio will focus on film and the wider creative industry, giving her an opportunity to contribute to conversations around the development of Enugu’s entertainment ecosystem.

The appointment has already attracted congratulations from within Nollywood. Former Actors Guild of Nigeria president Emeka Rollas congratulated Okonkwo, describing the appointment as well deserved and highlighting her experience and commitment to young people and the creative sector.

Rachael Okonkwo Takes on Creative Industry Role

Eucharia Anunobi Joins Government Too

Veteran actress Eucharia Anunobi who also received a government appointment, has been named Special Assistant on Women Mobilisation for Enugu North Zone.

Unlike Okonkwo’s role, Anunobi’s portfolio is centred on women mobilisation rather than the film industry.

The actress became prominent in Nollywood during the 1990s and has appeared in more than 90 films. She later became an evangelist, while continuing to remain a familiar figure in Nigeria’s entertainment and religious circles.

Her new position will involve responsibilities connected to women mobilisation in Enugu North.

Eucharia Anunobi Joins Government

Part of a Wider Government Reshuffle

The appointments of the two actresses are only a small part of Governor Peter Mbah’s latest appointments. The government announced appointments across several areas, including economic development, community affairs, youth engagement, environmental protection, healthcare, infrastructure, public communication, technology, rural development and women mobilisation.

The announcement lists seven Special Advisers, six Senior Special Assistants and 88 Special Assistants, bringing the total to 101.

From Nollywood to Public Service

For Okonkwo, the appointment creates an interesting connection between her experience in Nollywood and the development of Enugu’s creative sector.

Enugu has a long relationship with Nigeria’s film industry, and the state has produced actors, filmmakers and other creative professionals who have contributed to the growth of Nollywood.

Now, Okonkwo will have a formal role within the state government focused specifically on film and creative industry development.

For Anunobi, the appointment moves her into a grassroots mobilisation role focused on women in Enugu North.

Both appointments therefore represent a new chapter for two actresses who have spent decades connecting with Nigerian audiences through entertainment.

From the cinema screen to government offices, Rachael Okonkwo and Eucharia Anunobi are taking on very different assignments, but both are now part of the Enugu State Government’s wider administrative team.

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