When news of the harrowing abuse inflicted upon the young and vulnerable Miss Marvellous Uchechi Ezike, a 14-year-old native of Orodo, Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State by her guardian, came to my attention a few weeks ago, my office promised to provide support to the heartbroken mother and victim.

On August 11, 2023, I redeemed the pledge made to her mother who hawks groundnuts among other menial jobs, to make ends meet by providing her with the sum of N400,000 capital to start a small business and also a reassurance to prepare the expenses needed for the girl's school tuition which will be sorted as soon as school resumes.

The act of redeeming this pledge was not just about offering financial assistance, but also about weaving a safety net of emotional, psychological, and communal support around the mother and for the victim.

H.E. Chief Barr. (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma
First Lady, Imo State and Founder, GoodHope Flourish Foundation.