Ayobamiji Komolafe 
The wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Patience Umo Eno, has taken rehabilitated Grace Emmanuel, a 22-year-old widow and mother of four who resorted to feeding her children with chicken and fish feed from the poultry farm where she works.
The incident, which occurred in Eket Local Government Area, caught the attention of the public after Praise Uzoma, the daughter of the farm owner, shared the story on Instagram.
The social media post quickly garnered widespread sympathy and support, prompting the First Lady to intervene.
In a quick response, Mrs Eno initially provided Grace with N500,000 for immediate upkeep.
Speaking to journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Mrs. Uduak Ekong, the Press Secretary to the First Lady, outlined the comprehensive support plan that has been put in place for Grace.
According to Ekong, Grace has been relocated to a furnished accommodation complete with kitchen utensils and enough food supplies to last three months.
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In addition to providing basic necessities, the First Lady has initiated plans to train Grace in various skills and business management, with the goal of empowering her to become self-sufficient.
Grace will also be re-enrolled in school to complete her secondary education, a significant step towards securing a better future for her and her children.
Furthermore, Ekong disclosed that Grace’s monthly salary has been increased from N15,000 to N35,000.
This raise is partly facilitated by her employer, who will continue paying the initial N15,000, while an additional N20,000 will be added from funds raised in Grace’s name.
Ekong emphasized the importance of guiding Grace on how to manage her finances wisely to prevent exploitation.
“We are mindful that this is a girl that is still a child, doesn’t have a bank account, no phone. You don’t raise money and give to her in bulk. She is already vulnerable.
“So anything you give her that could make her live flamboyantly, she is going to fall prey. People will come under the guise of love and deceive her,” Ekong stated.
As part of the rehabilitation process, Mrs. Eno has ordered a mental health assessment for Grace.
This will determine her readiness for the next phase of support, which includes skills acquisition and the establishment of an alternative business to help sustain her family.
“We are not just giving money and going away. We are going to provide a lot of support. The next thing before empowering her will be mental evaluation,” Ekong added.
