The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has promised that the ministry will take action over the disturbing case of former Nigerian Tennis player, Tanya Okpala.
Enoh said this in a statement where he also admitted that the viral video of Okpala is disturbing.
Okpala was seen in a viral video looking unkempt with an injury with a bandage on her leg while talking to a stranger who offered to buy her a drink.
“I spoke with Tanya’s father who briefed me on her current condition and the genesis of her problem was confirmed to me,” he said on X.
“I got to know that the Nigerian Tennis Federation paid for Tanya’s first rehabilitation many years ago when her condition became public knowledge but sadly, the former tennis star relapsed after a short while.”
Okpala was once a tennis player of repute who played in a lot of tennis tournaments.
She represented Nigeria and the African continent and won laurels to her name.
She was a tennis junior’s champion who played at the highest level and was ranked number one at the time.
Enoh thanked the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, and his team for the swift intervention in the case of Okpala, saying such action is highly commendable.
“As a Ministry, our six-point agenda WAIFAR, has the W for activating and enabling a WELFARE system that caters to serving and retired athletes,” the Sports Minister added.
“As a ministry, we will take action in this regard as every athlete who has brought glory to our nation deserves appropriate welfare.”
