Tanya Okpala, a US Table Tennis champion, who was found wandering the streets has been rescued by the Anambra State Government through the state’s Ministry of Women and Social Welfare.
In a now-viral video making the rounds on social media, Okpala was seen walking the streets of Awka, the state capital.
According to reports, state governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo gave the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare Ify Obinabo the order to save and rehabilitate the tennis star, and Obinabo moved swiftly to carry it out.
This was verified in a statement released on Monday by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the commissioner’s media assistant.
The statement said, in part, “Ms. Tanya Okpala, a US-based tennis champion, was found wandering the streets of the state capital and was caught in a viral video on social media by a kindhearted member of the public. She was rescued by the Anambra State government.”
“Okpala appeared agitated and unsteady in the aforementioned video, which prompted the state authorities to act quickly to save, reform, and reunite her with her family.
“The governor and his spouse gave the women’s affairs commissioner the order, and she acted on it right away.
“While speaking with Okpala over the phone, Soludo gave her the reassurance that the state government would not abandon her and that she would receive the greatest care and rehabilitation available to help her recover.
“Soludo additionally guaranteed her that the state administration would guarantee her complete recuperation and reintegration into the community.”
Okpala, a tennis champion in the US, described her experience as follows: she was raised in Nkpologwu in the Aguata Local Government Area of the Anambra State and turned to crack cocaine as a result of negative peer pressure.
She added that she had received the greatest education both domestically and abroad.
Okpala, who said she lost her mother to cancer a few years ago, has not been able to move on from the loss. Her mother was from Belarus.
The six-year-old daughter of the US-based tennis champion is presently residing with her father in Nkpologwu, and she begged the governor’s wife to assist her in getting back in touch with her.