Esther Okereke, the National Rescue Movement presidential candidate, has presented her plans to fix Nigeria’s electricity, security, and economy if she wins in 2027.
The former actress and founder of several humanitarian foundations said her decision to run stems from years of direct work with widows, orphans, and persons with disabilities. She rejected the label of a “celebrity candidate,” insisting that her grassroots experience gives her a better understanding of the struggles facing ordinary Nigerians.
Okereke outlined her vision through what she called the ESTHER Agenda, a six-pillar manifesto focused on the economy, energy, education, security, social development, and technology. She promised to deliver 25,000 megawatts of power within her first 100 days in office by prioritising renewable and decentralised energy sources, arguing that fixing electricity would help expose and resolve insecurity and other national problems.
To address Nigeria’s debt and revenue challenges, she proposed scrapping redundant government agencies and ministries, then recovering public funds to reinvest in the economy. On security, Okereke advocated increased funding for security agencies and the full rollout of community policing, noting that local residents are best placed to protect their own communities when properly trained and equipped.
She described corruption as the root of many of the country’s problems and pledged to tackle it head-on, while also calling for greater investment in human capital to stop the ongoing loss of skilled professionals. Okereke maintained that her experience running businesses across different sectors has prepared her to lead, adding that the only requirement for effective leadership is the willpower to make the right decisions for the people.
