The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has directed the rehabilitation of Tanya Okpala, a former lawn tennis player who represented Nigeria in championships during the 1990s.
The move comes after a viral video surfaced online over the weekend, showing the ex-tennis star wandering the streets of Awka, the state capital, and expressing distress while seeking assistance.
Tanya Okpala, a half-caste with her mother hailing from Belarus and her father from Anambra, was seen in the video lamenting her situation.
She revealed feeling abandoned and neglected, facing taunts for being a half-caste and enduring comments telling her to “go back to your country.”
In her own words in the video, Okpala shared, “The whole world hears my story, and they laugh at me. I do not know why they laugh at me. They will say ‘Go back to your country.’ I am just tired. I am okay. Even though I am a half-cast, I consider myself a black Igbo. I am going to the village tomorrow to look after my daughter until further notice. … even if it’s just water, but I would prefer something like a Sprite. As I am now, I just ate four puff-puff. I was a former lawn tennis champion in Nigeria. I do not know if you are familiar with Tanya Okpala and Jacqueline Okwueze during those days. I played tennis for Nigeria and Africa.”
Governor Soludo, responding to the video on his X account, assured that Tanya Okpala is now in the custody of the Anambra State Government.
He pledged that the government would ensure her rehabilitation and a fruitful reunion with her daughter and family.
“Tanya Okpala (Fmr Tennis champion) is now in the custody of the Anambra State Government. She was with the Commissioner of Women Affairs when my wife spoke with her on the phone. My government will ensure her rehabilitation and fruitful reunion with her daughter and family,” the governor’s post stated.
