The Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, has warned a woman, Ogochukwu Nwabude, repatriated from the streets of Delta State, to desist from begging or face the law. Nwabude, 32-year-old and a mother of one, who hails from Nnewi, was said to have been sent back to Anambra after she was caught begging for alms in Asaba, the state capital.
She was said to be found ‘constituting nuisance’ by the Delta State government for begging for alms at the Interbua Roundabout, Asaba. This is according to a press statement by Miss Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media aide to the commissioner for women affairs in Anambra on Friday.
According to her, the woman, who was at the Anambra State Women and Social Welfare Ministry, was empowered by the commissioner and cautioned to desist from alms begging, adding that the repatriated woman has been handed over to the woman leader of her community in Nnewi.
The statement read, “Nwabude was sent back to Anambra by Delta State Government for constituting nuisance by begging in the said state. “Obinabo, who did not spare the repatriated beggar frowned at the act, but encouraged her to be an agent of change by engaging in a trade in order to fend for herself and her child.
“She went further to empower her with a little token to help her start up a business of her choice but warned that if caught again, she will be taken to court and face the law.”
Ikeanyionwu also quoted the woman as saying, she only engaged in the act for two weeks before she was captured by the Delta State Government and repatriated back to Anambra.
“She promised not to engage in alms begging, and pledged to make good use of the empowerment.
“She was later handed over to the Uruagu women leader in Nnewi, who was mandated to monitor her progress and report back to the ministry,” Ikeanyionwu added.
