Young Nigerian woman who was raped, impregnated at 12 and accused of being a witch gains admission into International Class for Culinary Arts

A young girl who was rescued after she was r@ped at 12, accused of being a witch and abandoned in Akwa Ibom State has gained admission into The International Class for Culinary Arts in Denmark. 

LIB reported that Danish aid worker Anja Loven Ringgren and her Nigerian husband, David Emmanuel Umem, rescued Ekemini in May 2016. 

Ekemini became pregnant as a result of the r@pe and gave birth at 13 through caesarean section as her pelvis was not fully developed. 

Giving an update in a Facebook post on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, Ms Ringgren revealed that Ekemini, now 23, left the orphanage yesterday for culinary school 10 years after surviving childhood r@pe, teenage pregnancy and abandonment. 

“From being r@ped at 12 years and accused of being a witch to getting admission into The International Class for Culinary Arts !!,” she wrote.

Ekemini was only 13 years old when she gave birth to Abasiofon. We rescued her when she was 8 months pregnant.

It’s been 10 years now since we rescued Ekemini and took her to the hospital. Because of her young age she had to have a caesarean.

To this day I have NEVER heard Ekemini complain. Only 1 hour after giving birth she was ready to stand up and leave the hospital.

Despite being a mom at 13 years, Ekemini was very responsible and devoted to her new role.

At the same time Ekemini was determined to go back to school. Despite being a teenage mom she wanted an education.

Last year Ekemini graduated Secondary school and has achieved her first goal in life

Her second goal was to get a higher education and that journey began yesterday when she left Land of Hope for the first time.

I was very emotional because I know how hard she has worked to be where she is today.

With your support to Land of Hope you gave Ekemini a new life full of dreams. She raised her son in our care with much pride and joy.

Abasiofon turns 10 this summer and despite how difficult it was for Ekemini to travel away from her son she knows she has raised a strong, intelligent young man who is well taken care of at Land of Hope.

She never had a youth like her peers due to early motherhood so now is her time to experience life on her own and she deserves every bit of it! 

Congratulations, my sweet daughter. Go conquer the world. I’m soooooo proud of you.