Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, has strongly criticized a young woman for using her mentally ill mother as content in a widely circulated video. The video, which has sparked outrage on social media over the weekend, shows the woman filming and interacting with her disheveled and clearly unwell mother.
In the video, the young woman introduces the mentally disturbed woman as her mother but does not reveal her own name. She explains that her mother developed mental illness after her father passed away. Initially, her mother was able to care for herself and her other siblings, but her mental health began to deteriorate over time. The mother eventually left their home and has since been living on the streets.
Despite her mother’s condition, the woman admitted in the video that she occasionally visits her, bringing food and money. The video, however, has raised concerns about the appropriateness of sharing such personal and vulnerable moments for social media attention.
Responding to the incident, Minister Kennedy-Ohanenye expressed her disapproval in a statement posted on her X page. She described the video as upsetting, inappropriate, and potentially harmful. The minister emphasized that the government strongly opposes the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, especially those struggling with mental health issues.
Kennedy-Ohanenye further stated that such actions go against the principles of empathy and care. She urged the public to be compassionate and tolerant toward those suffering from mental illnesses, condemning any form of exploitation or mockery. She added that mental illness requires understanding, support, and assistance.
The Minister also announced that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is seeking information regarding the identity and condition of the mother to ensure she receives the proper care and protection. A reward has been offered for any assistance in locating her. Kennedy-Ohanenye called on the public to respect the dignity and humanity of individuals facing mental health challenges and encouraged the immediate reporting of similar incidents to help prevent further exploitation.
