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.
The centre was located at Umunkpeyi Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.
The centre, 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 counselling and stabilisation 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, the First Lady equipped them with essential resources to rebuild their lives and pursue economic independence through small businesses.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday night, 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 business aspirations:
One of the girls received a shop, vintage fabrics, and a grant of N120,000 to launch a fashion materials business.
The First Lady provided another girl with a poultry setup, including 100 chicks, a poultry house, essential supplies, and a grant of N120,000.
Also, one of the rescued girls 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.
The fourth girl 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.
“We hope 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.