The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has strongly condemned a viral video in which a young woman exploits her mentally unstable mother for personal gain.
The video, which gained widespread attention over the weekend, shows the young woman, reportedly a content creator, filming and interacting with her mother, who appears visibly unwell and disheveled.
In the video, the young woman introduces her mother as someone who became mentally ill following the death of her father.
She claims that her mother initially cared for her and her siblings, but her mental state deteriorated, leading her to live on the streets.
The young woman mentioned that she occasionally visits her mother, bringing her food and money.
However, this act of recording and sharing the video has sparked outrage online, with many criticizing the exploitation of a vulnerable individual for social media content.
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Reacting to the situation, Minister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye expressed her deep concern in a post on her X (formerly Twitter) page on Monday.
She described the video as disturbing, unacceptable, and potentially harmful, emphasizing that it goes against the values of empathy and care.
The minister condemned the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, particularly those battling mental health issues, and called for greater compassion and understanding towards those suffering from such conditions.
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has also issued a call for information regarding the identity and condition of the woman featured in the video.
They are offering a reward for anyone who can assist in locating the woman to ensure she receives the proper care and protection she needs.
Minister Kennedy-Ohanenye urged the public to respect the dignity and humanity of individuals facing mental health challenges and to report any similar instances of exploitation.
She emphasized the importance of working together to prevent such exploitation and to support those in need.
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