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Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Owan-Enoh, has revealed more details about a former lawn tennis champion, Tanya Okpala, who is homeless.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Mrs Okpala was rescued by Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State who ordered her rehabilitation.
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The governor’s intervention came after the United States-based former tennis star was captured on video wandering the streets of Awka.
Mrs Okpala was said to be homeless and mentally ill.
Biracial, Ms Okpala’s mother is from Belarus, a country in Eastern Europe, while her father is from the Nkpologwu community in the Aguata local government area of Anambra state, southeastern Nigeria.
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Minister speaks
Owan-Enoh, in a post through his username X on Monday, said Okpala’s father had informed him about the genesis of his daughter’s problem.
“I spoke to Tanya’s father who informed me about her current condition and the genesis of her problem confirmed to me that the Nigerian Tennis Federation paid for Tanya’s first rehabilitation many years ago when her condition became public, but unfortunately the former star from tennis he relapsed. after a while,” she said.
The sports minister said his ministry will activate and enable a “welfare system” that caters to serving and retired athletes in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: How I became homeless – Former tennis champion
“As a ministry, we will take action in this regard, as every athlete who has brought glory to our nation deserves adequate welfare,” he said.
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Owan-Enoh thanked Governor Soludo for his intervention.
“This is very laudable,” he said.
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