A businesswoman and philanthropist, Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke, has emerged as the presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), pledging to transform Nigeria’s economy through massive job creation and people-oriented reforms.
Dr. Okereke, popularly known as Dr. NEO, is the President of the Ravkam Group of Companies, with interests spanning construction, real estate, sports and entertainment, hospitality, finance, and cooperative services.
She is also recognized for her humanitarian efforts through the Ravadel Care Foundation, which focuses on supporting widows, orphans, and the less privileged, as well as the Kamdera Development Foundation, which promotes inmate rehabilitation programmes and provides support for retired security personnel.
Speaking at the event, the National Chairman of NRM, Prince Chinedu Obi, said the party was prepared to rescue Nigeria from poor governance and provide purposeful leadership.
According to him, the party’s mission is to restore integrity, trust, and accountability in governance while ensuring that government serves the welfare, security, and empowerment of the people.
Obi lamented Nigeria’s persistent economic challenges despite its vast human and natural resources, noting that millions of citizens remain trapped in poverty due to what he described as a failure of leadership.
“The tragedy of contemporary Nigeria is not the absence of resources, talent, or opportunities. Our challenge has been the persistent failure to align leadership with national purpose,” he said.
He unveiled the party’s “Rescue Nigeria Blueprint,” describing it as a comprehensive framework for national renewal built on 24 core policy pillars with clear implementation strategies, timelines, and performance indicators.
The NRM chairman said the blueprint prioritizes security reforms, economic revitalization, educational transformation, healthcare improvement, infrastructure development, and investment promotion.
He added that the party would strengthen security through technology-driven intelligence gathering, improved law enforcement, border security, and measures to address the root causes of criminality and violent extremism.
On the economy, Obi said the NRM administration would pursue productivity-driven reforms, support entrepreneurship, modernize agriculture, promote industrial development, expand infrastructure, and ensure prudent management of national resources.
In her acceptance speech, Dr. Okereke thanked party members and delegates for the confidence reposed in her and pledged to provide visionary leadership if elected.
She said her administration would be guided by a seven-point agenda aimed at transforming the nation, creating employment opportunities, reducing poverty, and improving the living standards of Nigerians.
The NRM presidential candidate described the party as a credible alternative platform capable of restoring Nigeria’s lost glory and delivering sustainable development across all sectors.
She assured Nigerians that her government would focus on economic prosperity, youth empowerment, security, quality education, healthcare, and inclusive governance.
“We are determined to rebuild Nigeria and create opportunities for every citizen. The National Rescue Movement offers a new direction and renewed hope for our country,” she said.
