Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has stepped in to rescue former lawn tennis champion Tanya Okpala after a video surfaced showing her homeless and mentally ill on the streets of Awka, the state capital.

Tanya Okpala, who represented Nigeria in female lawn tennis tournaments during the 1990s, faced homelessness and neglect, as revealed in the viral video. She is of mixed heritage, with a Belarusian mother and a father from Anambra State.

In the video, the ex-tennis star expressed the challenges she faced, including mockery for her mixed heritage, and pleaded for help. She looked disheveled with tattered clothes and an injury on her left leg, recounting how she had been labeled a prostitute.

Reacting to the video, Governor Soludo assured the public that the Anambra State Government has taken custody of Ms. Okpala and pledged to ensure her rehabilitation and reunion with her daughter and family.

The Governor’s intervention follows widespread calls from Nigerians for assistance to be extended to the former tennis champion. Governor Soludo, through the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, has directed the rehabilitation process to commence immediately.

The rescue and rehabilitation efforts aim to provide Ms. Okpala with the necessary support and care, addressing her mental health and ensuring a positive transition back into society.