The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has expressed outrage at a Nigerian lady who recorded her (lady) encounter with her mentally ill mother.
She had filmed her visit to the mother and posted the video online.
In the video, she is seen given her corn and trying to show she cares for her in spite of her situation.
The video, which has sparked outrage online over the weekend, shows the young woman filming and engaging with her mother, who appears visibly unwell and unkempt.
As ‘The Punch’ reports, the young lady, who is reported to be a content creator and who did not give her name in the video, introduced a mentally unstable woman as her mother.
She said her mother became mentally ill after her father’s death, adding that her mum initially was taking care of herself and her other siblings but things began to deteriorate with her mental state.
The young lady added that her mum left their home and has been residing on the streets.
She, however, stated that she visits her from time to time with food items and money.
Reacting to the development in a post via her X page on Monday, the minister described the video as disturbing, unacceptable and potentially harmful.
She added that such exploitation goes against the values of empathy and care and urged the public to demonstrate compassion and understanding towards individuals suffering from mental health issues.
She wrote, “We condemn the disturbing video report of a woman’s mental illness being exploited by her daughter for personal gain and social media content. This is unacceptable, potentially harmful, and troubling.
“We strongly condemn exploiting vulnerable individuals, especially those struggling with mental health issues. Mental illness demands compassion, understanding, and support – not ridicule or exploitation.
“The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs urgently request information about the mother’s identity and condition to ensure proper care and protection. A reward is offered for prompt location assistance.
“Appropriate actions must be taken to address this situation. We call on everyone to respect the dignity and humanity of those facing mental health issues and report similar instances immediately.
“Let’s work together to prevent exploitation and support those who need it most.”
