Nollywood star Esther Okereke has thrown her hat into the ring for Nigeria’s highest office, securing the presidential ticket of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) on May 29.
She emerged as the party’s sole candidate and the first woman to fly its presidential flag, setting up a contest against incumbent President Bola Tinubu and leading opposition figures like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar. Okereke, an actress, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, brings a diverse background to the race.
She founded Kamdera Services Limited in 2015, which has expanded into consultancy and hotel management, and launched the Gliding Stars Football Club in 2023. Her foundation supports widows, vulnerable children, and disadvantaged communities, while her business interests span construction, real estate, engineering, and sports.
Academically, she holds a degree in Applied Science (with a focus on political science and government), a master’s in International Relations from the University of Abuja, and is currently pursuing a doctorate.
Positioning her bid as a “national rescue mission,” Okereke blames poor leadership, corruption, and lack of vision for Nigeria’s challenges. She has pledged to declare states of emergency in education and power supply if elected, while pushing broad reforms in the economy, security, healthcare, housing, technology, job creation, and good governance.NRM National Chairman Chinendu Obi hailed her emergence as proof of women’s strength and capability.
Before entering politics, Okereke starred in films including The Revealing, Muqabala, The Innocent, Venom, Wedding Saga, and Enigma, working with actors such as Mofe Duncan, the late Alexx Ekubo, Francis Duru, and Stan Nze.