In a demonstration of compassion and commitment to social justice, the Wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has extended significant support to four teenage mothers from Abia State who were among the 21 pregnant girls recently rescued from the now-closed Nma Charity and Social Mothers Rehabilitation Centre, located in Umunkpeyi Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area. The center, operating under the guise of a rehabilitation facility, was revealed to be a front for child traffickers involved in the sale of newborns.
Following their rescue, the wife of the Governor, Mrs Priscilla Chidinma, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, provided three months of counseling and stabilization support for all victims. Mrs. Otti further facilitated the safe return of the 19 non-Abia residents to their respective states, personally arranging for financial support to reunite them with their families.
For the four Abia State natives, she went a step further, equipping them with essential resources to rebuild their lives and pursue economic independence through small businesses.
Speaking at a press briefing in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South, Mrs. Otti underscored the importance of equipping these young women with skills and resources to prevent them from falling back into vulnerable situations. Each of the empowered young women was assessed and provided with a tailored package designed to support their individual business aspirations:
Miss [name withheld] received a shop, vintage fabrics, and a grant of N120,000 to launch a fashion materials business.
Miss [name withheld] was provided with a poultry setup, including 100 chicks, a poultry house, essential supplies, and a grant of N120,000.
Miss [name withheld] was assisted with a fully paid salon space, an array of hair products, salon equipment, and a grant of N120,000 to start a hair styling business.
Miss [name withheld] was supplied with a shop, food items, and a grant of N120,000 to initiate a foodstuffs business.
Mrs. Otti expressed her hopes that these young women will become positive role models, demonstrating to their peers that success can be achieved through legitimate means. “Our hope is that these young women will serve as ambassadors to the younger generation, proving that one can achieve success without resorting to unlawful practices. We are also committed to mentoring them as they grow their businesses,” Mrs. Otti stated.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Vulnerable Groups and Social Protection, Mrs. Blessing Felix, praised Mrs. Otti’s decisive and compassionate intervention, noting that economic vulnerability often exposes young women to trafficking. Special Assistant to the Governor on Vulnerable Groups, Mrs. Ifeoma Thomas, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Ogechi Oguama echoed these sentiments, urging young women to rebuild with integrity and encourage them to inspire others to make better choices.
Through this powerful and compassionate intervention, Mrs. Otti and the Abia State government reaffirm their unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking and supporting vulnerable individuals across the state.
Ndubueze Justice
Press Secretary to the wife of the Governor.
