Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the former Minister of Women Affairs, has provided insights into how funds contributed by notable Nigerians were managed for a street children rehabilitation initiative during her time in office.
During an interview with Channels TV on December 25, Uju disclosed that her initiative, which was designed to help children aged 5 to 12 escape street hawking, was unable to launch because of her unexpected ousting from office.
Uju explained that the project was not included in her ministerial budget, forcing her to look for financial assistance from prominent figures, such as philanthropists Chief Arthur Eze and Tony Elumelu. She noted, “On October 15, many Nigerians came together at the villa to back this initiative. Arthur Eze contributed N100 million, while others gave between N20 million and N30 million each.”
Just under two weeks after obtaining the funding, she was removed from her position, which led her to return the donations. “Since I was no longer a minister, it was best to give their money back,” she said, noting that the refund process was managed by the secretary of her ministry.
Uju highlighted her ethical stance in handling the donations: “I didn’t take a single cent. The money was intended for at-risk children during my time as a minister. After that period, I had no moral right to utilize those funds.”
The clarification comes amid public scrutiny over the usage of funds intended for vulnerable populations, reflecting Uju’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
