Pecohub Abia’s First Lady and wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has empowered four teenage mothers from Abia State who were recently rescued from a notorious baby factory in the state.
The teenagers were among the 21 pregnant girls rescued from the Nma Charity and Social Mothers Rehabilitation Centre, located in Umunkpeyi Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, which has now been closed by the government.
A government statement said the centre operated under the guise of a rehabilitation facility but was later found to be a front for child traffickers involved in the sale of newborns.
Speaking while empowering the teenagers, Mrs. Otti underscored the importance of equipping the young women with skills and resources to prevent them from falling back into vulnerable situations.
Mrs. Otti expressed hope that the young women would become positive role models, demonstrating to their peers that success can be achieved through legitimate means.
“Our hope is that these young women will serve as ambassadors to the younger generation, proving that one can achieve success without resorting to unlawful practices. We are also committed to mentoring them as they grow their businesses,” she stated.
The Commissioner for Vulnerable Groups and Social Protection, Mrs. Blessing Felix, praised Mrs. Otti’s decisive and compassionate intervention, noting that economic vulnerability often exposes young women to trafficking.
Each of the empowered young women was provided with a cash gift and a package designed to support their individual business aspirations.
The wife of the governor had earlier, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, provided three months of counselling and stabilisation support for all the victims.
Mrs. Otti also facilitated the safe return of the 19 non-Abia victims to their respective states, providing financial support to reunite them with their families.
