By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
A total of N2 million has been raised for Grace Udeme Emmanuel, a 22-year-old mother of four who was reported to be feeding her children poultry feed at a farm in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, where she works.
Grace and her children have been relocated to a new home, with additional benefits planned to improve their living conditions and future prospects.
Pastor Patience Umo Eno, the wife of the Akwa Ibom State governor, initially announced a lifeline of N500,000 after the plight of Grace was shared on social media by the daughter of the farm owner where Grace works. Subsequently, an additional N900,000 was raised through this same channel.
Uduak Ekong, Media Aide to the Governor’s Wife, informed journalists in Uyo that efforts are underway to provide Grace with skills training, business setup support, and opportunities to continue her education, as she had dropped out of school in SS1.
Ekong explained, “What caught Her Excellency’s attention was the extreme measure of feeding children poultry feed. Upon meeting Grace, we learned she became pregnant at 16, dropped out of school, and was eventually forced out of her home. After moving in with the man who got her pregnant, he was tragically killed. This left Grace to care for her four young children alone, with a sister taking one of them.”
With the initial N500,000 intervention from Mrs. Eno, additional support was garnered through social media, with the fund quickly rising to almost N2 million. Ekong noted, “This was the largest amount raised in such a short time, with contributions from over 300,000 followers of the Instagram campaign.”
Plans are in place to conduct a mental evaluation of Grace to ensure she is in a proper state of mind to care for her children. Following this, she will receive skills training and business support, including financial management tutoring to help her sustain her new business venture.
Efforts also include plans for Grace’s and her children’s education to ensure a stable and prosperous future.
