The Anambra State government has stepped in to rescue Ms. Tania Ijeoma Okpala, a former US-based tennis champion after she was found wandering the streets of the state capital.

Ms. Okpala’s distressing state, captured in a viral video on social media over the weekend, prompted swift action from the Anambra State Government to address her situation and extend assistance.

Commissioner Ify Obinabo of the Ministry of Women Affairs revealed that Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his wife promptly directed action upon learning of Ms. Okpala’s plight.

In a statement shared on the ministry’s social media page, Mrs. Soludo personally assured Ms. Okpala of the government’s commitment to her well-being, promising top-notch treatment and rehabilitation to facilitate her recovery and reintegration into society.

Ms. Okpala, hailing from Nkpologwu in Aguata Local Government Area, disclosed to the First Lady that despite being a US-based tennis champion, she fell into drug addiction due to negative peer influence.

“I am deeply grateful for the swift response and support from the Anambra State Government. Their assurance of assistance gives me hope for a better future,” Ms. Okpala expressed.

She recounted her educational achievements both locally and internationally, revealing the profound impact of losing her mother to cancer a few years ago, which she struggled to overcome.

Ms. Okpala, who has a six-year-old daughter residing with her father in Nkpologwu, expressed her earnest desire to be reunited with her child, seeking assistance from the governor’s wife in this matter.

“I am determined to overcome my challenges and rebuild my life for the sake of my daughter,” Ms. Okpala emphasized in her plea for assistance.