Nollywood actresses Rachael Okonkwo and Eucharia Anunobi have been appointed as aides to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah as part of a new round of 101 appointments across the state government.
The appointments, announced on Monday, September 21, 2026, comprise seven Special Advisers, six Senior Special Assistants and 88 Special Assistants. They take immediate effect, according to a public service announcement signed by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia.
Rachael Okonkwo, known for her work in Nollywood, has been appointed Senior Special Assistant on Film and Creative Industry Development. The appointment places her in a role directly connected to the film and wider creative sector in the state.
Eucharia Anunobi, the veteran actress and filmmaker, has also been appointed Special Assistant on Women Mobilisation for the Enugu-North Zone. Her appointment is among several positions created around community engagement, women mobilisation and grassroots activities.
The two actresses are among a wide range of individuals appointed to portfolios covering different areas of the Enugu State Government. Other Senior Special Assistants named in the announcement are Barr. Okey Ude on Inter-Party and Mobilisation, Hon. Chinedu Chukwunwike on Party Monitoring, Barr. Peter Chukwujekwu Ogbe on Legal and Regulatory Compliance, Chukwudi Ozoeluba on Boundary and Land Dispute Resolution, and Frank Udemezue on Small and Medium Enterprise Development.
The seven Special Advisers are Chief S.N.C. Nwagu on Conflict Resolution and Mediation; Hon. Dr Fidelis Odo on Inter-Governmental Affairs and Co-ordination; Augustine Okoli on Policy Affairs and Analysis; Hon. Pedro Nwankwo on Stakeholders Relations and Community Affairs; Chimezie Nkwuo on Economic Development; Chief Vitalis Okonkwo on Grassroots Coordination; and Peter Andy Omeje on Commerce and Business Development.
The 88 Special Assistants will handle responsibilities across a broad range of areas, including environmental protection, market sanitation, infrastructure maintenance, youth development, women mobilisation, community engagement, public communication, technology and innovation, sports development, security intelligence, social media, civic education and voter awareness, rural development and grassroots mobilisation.
For Okonkwo, the appointment comes with a portfolio that directly intersects with her profession. The actress has built a career in Nollywood and is known for appearances in Nigerian films and television productions, while her new government role focuses specifically on film and creative industry development in Enugu.
Anunobi, meanwhile, is one of the veteran names in the new appointments. She has maintained a career spanning acting, filmmaking and public speaking, having become widely known through Nigerian films and television productions since the 1990s.
The appointments also come as Enugu continues to expand its administrative structure across political, economic, social and community-focused areas. The portfolios announced in the latest round include both sector-specific responsibilities and positions focused on mobilisation and public engagement.
All 101 appointments take effect immediately, according to the state government’s announcement.
