Women Affairs Minister offers reward to locate mentally ill woman in viral video, condemns daughter for exploiting situation

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has offered an unnamed reward for assistance to promptly locate a mentally unstable woman seen in a viral video made by her daughter, whom she accused of exploiting for personal gain.

In the video which has sparked widespread condemnation on the internet, the footage shows a young woman, believed to be a content creator, filming and engaging with her visibly unwell and unkempt mother.

However, the young lady's decision to film and share this private moment with her mentally ill parent has been met with strong criticism from the public and government officials.

In the video, the unnamed content creator introduced the mentally unstable woman as her mother, explaining that her mother's mental illness began after the death of her father.

The young lady claimed that her mother initially cared for herself and her siblings but gradually deteriorated mentally.

According to her, the mother has been living on the streets, but she visits her occasionally to provide food and money.

Reacting to the development in a post via her verified X page @BarrUjuKennedy, on Monday, the minister described the video as disturbing, unacceptable and potentially harmful.

The Minister in response to the viral video featuring a young woman filming her mentally unstable mother, emphasising that such actions contradict the values of empathy and care.

She urged the public to show compassion and understanding towards those suffering from mental health issues, highlighting the importance of protecting and supporting vulnerable members of society rather than exploiting them for online attention.

Kennedy-Ohanenye 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.”