Grace Udeme Emmanuel, a 22-year-old mother of four in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, who was driven by poverty to feed her children chicken feed, has found a new home, a stockpile of food, and newfound attention.
Grace’s life took a dramatic turn when the daughter of the poultry owner where she worked shared her tragic situation on social media.
Mrs. Uduak Ekong, Press Secretary to the Wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, explained to newsmen in Uyo on Tuesday that the post quickly caught the attention of the Governor’s Wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, who was deeply moved by the young mother’s suffering.
Ekong disclosed that the Governor’s wife immediately responded with a lifeline of N500,000, marking the beginning of a series of efforts to uplift Grace and her children from their dire circumstances.
“The state government, alongside generous donors, is ensuring that Grace and her children are not only provided with basic necessities but are also given a pathway to a better future,” Ekong said.
“A room apartment has been secured and furnished for Grace and her children, who moved in last week. They were given a three-month supply of food, essential household items, and a significant salary increase—from N15,000 to N35,000 per month,” she added.
Narrating further, Ekong said, “What first caught Her Excellency’s attention was what would drive any human being to consider feeding her children chicken feed.
“When we met her, we discovered that she was pregnant at 16 and had dropped out of school in SS1. Despite her circumstances, she speaks impeccable English and comes across as an intelligent person.
“Like many young girls, she got pregnant and was sent out of the house. She moved in with the man who got her pregnant. Unfortunately, he was caught stealing sweet potatoes from Hausa people.
“He was beaten and left to bleed to death. After his death, things turned worse for Grace, who was left alone with four children: a four-year-old, a three-year-old, a two-year-old, and a one-year-old. A sister to the late father of her children had taken the three-year-old, leaving Grace to fend for the other three.
“Following the initial N500,000 intervention from Mrs. Eno, others reached out, offering to support Grace. Her Excellency directed all contributions to the lady who shared Grace’s story on Instagram. With over 300,000 followers, she managed to raise almost N2,000,000.
“Normally, she runs small humanitarian campaigns where people contribute bit by bit for medicals, school fees, and other needs, but this was the first time she raised this much. With this money, Grace’s monthly salary has been increased from N15,000 to N35,000.”
Ekong emphasized that the support must be carefully managed to ensure Grace’s long-term stability.
“We are mindful that this is still a young girl who doesn’t have a bank account or a phone. You don’t just raise money and give it to her in bulk. She is vulnerable, and anything could make her a target for those who might exploit her.
“We are working on providing her with training in managing her income. We noticed that she is skilled in braiding hair, having done her children’s hair herself. We plan to provide her with formal training in hairdressing and set her up with a place to work. Additionally, we are considering alternative trades for her in foodstuff or provisions.”
