Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus, has declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, expressing confidence that the President would win the 2027 election despite criticisms of his administration.
Social media commentator, Somto Okonkwo, known by the handle @General_Somto, shared the interview on his X account on Friday, November 7, 2026.
In the interview, Badmus praised Tinubu’s reforms, particularly the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which she said had provided educational opportunities for students who might otherwise struggle to finance their studies.
NELFUND, established under the Tinubu administration, provides interest-free loans to eligible students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition fees and living expenses.
The initiative is designed to reduce financial barriers to higher education and prevent students from dropping out because of their inability to pay school fees.
As of November 4, 2026, the fund had disbursed N375.28bn to more than 1.67 million students from 2.37 million applications received since the scheme commenced in May 2024.
This represents approximately 70.4 per cent of the applications, with N194.77bn paid directly to 320 institutions for tuition fees and N180.51bn released to students as upkeep allowances.
Badmus, who said she did not have access to student loans during her university days, described the initiative as a significant intervention by the Federal Government, noting that it had helped students overcome financial challenges associated with tertiary education.
She also expressed concern over the uptake of the scheme in the South-West, urging more students to take advantage of the opportunity.
The actress maintained that Tinubu had performed well in the education sector and introduced several reforms from which Nigerians were benefiting, despite opposition to his administration.
“Some people don’t just like Tinubu, but they know Baba is working. You know, when you don’t like somebody, you don’t like somebody. For me, he is doing his best, and the Lord will continue to strengthen him,” she said.
Her endorsement comes as Tinubu faces the prospect of seeking another term amid persistent economic challenges, including high food prices, rising transportation costs, unemployment and the pressure of the cost of living on households.
Although the administration has introduced reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system, their effects on ordinary Nigerians continue to generate debate, with many citizens struggling to cope with rising living expenses.
With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the economic situation is expected to remain a major factor in voters’ decisions, as Tinubu and his supporters seek to convince Nigerians that the reforms are producing meaningful results.
Badmus, however, argued that electoral victories were determined more by grassroots mobilisation than social media popularity, expressing confidence in Tinubu’s political structure.
“Politics is not on social media; it is at the grassroots level. Being popular on social media does not mean you will win an election,” she said.
