The founder of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Pastor Chibuzor Chinyere, has announced plans to facilitate the marriage of his 21-year-old adopted daughter, Chiemeka Chibuzor, who is on the autism spectrum.
In a statement shared on his social media platform on Tuesday, the cleric disclosed that he is seeking a suitable young man to marry Chiemeka, describing her as someone who can communicate effectively and hear without difficulty.
Pastor Chinyere explained that the initiative is intended to ensure the young woman receives adequate care, protection, and companionship in the future. He also listed several incentives for any prospective suitor, including lifetime financial support, free accommodation, and a house to be jointly owned by the couple.
According to him, the church would also conduct periodic visits to monitor her welfare and ensure that she is treated with dignity and not subjected to any form of abuse or neglect.
The development follows a similar arrangement in March, when the cleric facilitated the marriage of a non-verbal autistic man popularly known as Aboy to an older woman during a ceremony held on March 29. The marriage generated mixed reactions from the public, with some stakeholders raising concerns about issues of consent, personal autonomy, dignity, and the ethics surrounding arranged marriages involving persons with cognitive disabilities.
In response to the criticism, Pastor Chinyere later provided additional support to the groom, including a vehicle and a plot of land, and appointed him as an ambassador for the church’s free school for children with autism and Down syndrome.
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