Anambra State Government has offered an appointment to Ms. Tania Okpala, the ex-tennis star who was pictured wandering the streets of Awka in a viral video that went up on social media around six months ago.
The announcement was made yesterday by the governor’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo, at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, while giving the latest update on Ms. Okpala’s full recovery journey.
Recall that Mrs Soludo, on seeing the ex-tennis star’s video, immediately called the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare to bring her in for immediate rehabilitation.
The state government then pledged to support her full recovery and ensure that she got everything she needed to become a valuable addition to society.
Addressing journalists, the governor’s wife said that Tania’s appointment as a Special Assistant to the Governor on Social Works under the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, would give her the opportunity to use her story to redefine the world around her and bring valuable impact to the lives of young people, especially women and children.
She said Tania’s recovery was fully taken care of by the state government, describing her survival as a miraculous story that would be used to inspire humanity.
She also added that apart from living in a private staff quarters in the Governor’s Official Residence, Tania has also been enrolled in the university where she is currently studying Psychology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Mrs Soludo also noted that the government will continue to monitor her behavior and education through the family, adding that she was sure that she would make the best use of the opportunities that have been given.
“Tania’s recovery is a miraculous story. I take her like a daughter and pray to God every day to give her the strength to continue staying positive. Her story is one to inspire everyone. It’s a story of resilience and tenacity.
“Today, I’m proud to say that Tania Okpala is back. God did it. We give Him all the glory. Having done our part as an administration that thinks humanity first and in fulfilment of the government’s pledge to see Tania through recovery and give her everything she needed to become a valuable addition, the Anambra State Government has decided to offer her an appointment as a Special Assistant to the Governor on Social Works.
She will work with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare and will use her life’s story to educate the younger ones and offer her best to social interventions and helping humanity. We’re motivated by Tania’s energy and zeal.
Personally, I admire her intelligence and positive approach to things. I strongly believe that she can use that to bring great impact to this new task” she said.
Commending the governor’s wife, Tania’s father, Mr Joel Okpala said that the state government has made massive impact on his daughter’s life, disclosing that the family had tried so many unconventional methods to get her back to normalcy.
He thanked Mrs Soludo for taking up the sacrifice of bringing his daughter back to full recovery and added that family would remain ever grateful to her.
On her part, Tania, who spoke about taking up the new task, said that she will take everything one step at a time, but explained that she had always looked out for an opportunity to serve Anambra State.
She thanked the governor’s wife for taking her in as her own daughter and for staying committed to her welfare all through the recovery period.
Over the last six months, Tania Okpala has been in Mrs. Soludo’s full care, taking her psychological appointments and lawn tennis classes.
Tania it would be recalled was a multiple national champion who became the Nigeria number one female tennis player at the age of 15 and represented Nigeria and Africa at major international events.
Watch the viral video of Tania below;