Centre awards scholarship to trafficked girl repatriated from Ghana

The Ugwumba Leadership Center for Africa has awarded a scholarship to Divine Asuzu, one of the teenagers repatriated from the neighbouring Republic of Ghana.

Asuzu is among eight young girls, aged between 15 and 22, recently trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana under the pretext of securing them white-collar jobs to eke out a living for themselves.

The President of the Ugwumba Leadership Center, Mr Uche Nwosu, made this known in a terse statement made available to The Guardian in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Nwosu applauded the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for swiftly ensuring the rescue of the underage trafficked girls back to the country.

He also expressed appreciation for those in the Diaspora who identified and raised the alarm that led to their rescue, calling on well-meaning Nigerians to lend a helping hand to the underprivileged girls.

Nwosu thanked the Board and Management of the Ugwumba Leadership Center for the kind gesture extended to Divine Asuzu.

“Beautiful people, this is not the time to pass judgement on those young girls who may have already passed through emotional and psychological trauma. Let’s embrace them with love and help them regain their place of honour and value in society,” he said.

“On our side, the Ugwumba Leadership Center, after discussing with the parents of Miss Divine Asuzu, one of the rescued girls who hails from Amaokpara community in Nkwerre LGA, Imo State, who indicated her interest to continue with her education.

“As an organisation that promotes youth development in Africa, we hereby award her a full scholarship to study in any of the government universities in Nigeria. Meanwhile, before her admission, we have also approved placing her on a monthly upkeep allowance.”