“They called us witches after my father’s death” – Monica Brown recounts childhood ordeal, launches humanitarian foundation

Monica Brown, a fast-rising Nigerian actress, entrepreneur and humanitarian, has recounted how she and her siblings were labelled witches following the death of their father in 2009, a traumatic experience that shaped her commitment to supporting vulnerable children and girls.

Brown, founder of Her Rising Menstrual Health Foundation (HRMHF), shared her childhood experience in a video posted on her Instagram account, calling on the Akwa Ibom State Government to address the stigmatisation and abuse of children accused of witchcraft.

According to her, she was about nine or ten years old when her father died. At the time, she was attending junior secondary school in Cameroon before returning to Nigeria for his funeral.

She said her father’s death was followed by accusations from members of his family, who labelled her a witch and her two younger brothers wizards, alleging that they were responsible for his death.

“My dad died in 2009. I was about nine to ten years old. I was doing my junior school in Cameroon, so it was after my dad’s death that they sent me back to Nigeria. I came back to Nigeria in 2009 for my father’s funeral.

“When my father died, they fought my mom. They labelled my brothers as wizards and labelled me as a witch. They said we were the ones who killed our father,” she recounted.

Brown explained that the accusations were accompanied by pressure on her family to subject the children to a traditional practice in which they would be made to drink water used to wash their father’s corpse.

She said her uncles insisted that the children undergo the practice, claiming that their survival would prove their innocence.

However, her mother refused to allow them to participate, insisting that she wanted to mourn her husband without exposing her children to further danger.

“My uncles said we were the ones who killed my father. They neglected us. They accused us and called us all sorts of names. They insisted that we should drink the water, but my mom refused.

“My mom said, ‘No, we will not drink it. What is it that you people want? My husband is dead. Let me mourn him in peace,’” she said.

The actress explained that her father was an influential politician in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, and his death attracted widespread attention, making the allegations against his children even more damaging.

She said her family, which had previously enjoyed financial comfort, experienced a dramatic change in circumstances after his death.

According to her, her father’s relatives allegedly took away the family’s properties, including their house, land and car, while everything in her mother’s shop was also taken.

Brown said the witchcraft allegations resulted in widespread rejection, as people in their community avoided associating with the family.

The situation eventually forced her mother to relocate with the children to Lagos in search of safety and a fresh start.

However, their challenges continued after arriving in the commercial city, as they had no permanent accommodation and frequently slept in churches while seeking assistance.

She also recalled how the displacement disrupted her education, leaving her out of school for about two years despite repeatedly asking her mother when she would return to the classroom.

“I remember asking my mom, ‘When are we going back to school?’ She would say very soon, but very soon turned into two years,” she said.

Despite the difficulties, Brown said her mother remained determined to keep the family together and never abandoned her children, even when they had nowhere to turn.

She said the financial hardship also exposed her to another difficult experience as a young girl: period poverty.

Brown recalled that when she experienced her first menstruation, she approached her mother after noticing blood, only for her mother to give her pieces of an old wedding wrapper to use as sanitary materials.

According to her, the wrapper was a treasured possession her maternal grandmother had given her mother during her wedding.

Her mother, who could not afford sanitary pads at the time, reportedly cut the wrapper into eight pieces for her daughter to use during menstruation.

“I looked at this woman with so much disappointment. I was wondering why I had to use a wrapper for my period. That was what her own mother gave her, and she didn’t have money to buy sanitary pads,” Brown recalled.

She said the experience became one of the defining moments behind her determination to establish an organisation that would address menstrual health challenges and support girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Brown explained that her vision for a humanitarian organisation dates back several years, noting that she documented the idea on July 26, 2022, before the foundation was eventually established.

She said the vision came from her childhood experiences and her desire to ensure that no girl would have to endure the same challenges she faced.

Her educational journey also marked a significant turning point in her life. Despite the interruptions and financial difficulties she experienced growing up, Brown eventually returned to school and gained admission to Akwa Ibom State University.

She graduated from the institution in 2022, with the journey made possible through the intervention of an anonymous philanthropist who sponsored her university education between 2018 and 2022.

Brown disclosed that the benefactor also assisted her family in securing safer accommodation, providing much-needed relief after years of homelessness and instability.

Following her graduation, she began building her entrepreneurial career through Monique Hairbar, a business she established in 2023.

She said the business became part of her journey towards financial independence while she continued pursuing her interests in entertainment and humanitarian service.

Brown, however, said she initially needed encouragement to translate her long-standing humanitarian vision into a formal organisation.

She credited Dr Bella, her former lecturer and mentor, with playing a significant role in encouraging her to formalise the idea and establish the foundation and also introduced her to Rotarty and Humanitarian services.

Following the necessary steps, Her Rising Menstrual Health Foundation was officially registered on September 30, 2026.

The foundation subsequently organised its maiden outreach on October 29, 2026, at Brown’s alma mater, Kuje senior secondary School, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State.

During the outreach, approximately 120 Senior Secondary School One (SS1) students benefited from the initiative, which provided sanitary pads, exercise books and an educational session focused on menstrual health and awareness.

The outreach marked the beginning of the foundation’s efforts to address period poverty, promote menstrual health education and support vulnerable girls, particularly those from disadvantaged communities.

Brown said her ambition is to expand the foundation’s humanitarian activities and reach more girls who lack access to basic menstrual hygiene products and educational support.

She also called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to take the issue of children accused of witchcraft seriously, describing the practice as barbaric and harmful.

“This is me calling the Akwa Ibom State Government. They should look into these things. It’s an evil, barbaric act. What’s your evidence? What makes you feel like this child is a witch?” she asked.

She further alleged that some people exploit witchcraft accusations as a means of dispossessing widows and children of properties left behind by deceased relatives.

“In my case, they tagged me and my two younger brothers. And what happened at the end of the day? They did away with everything,” she said.

Beyond her humanitarian activities and business interests, Brown said she remains committed to developing her acting career, expressing her ambition to pursue entertainment alongside her work through Her Rising Menstrual Health Foundation.

She hopes to build a career that combines entrepreneurship, acting and humanitarian service while using her personal experiences to inspire other young people and create opportunities for vulnerable children and women.

About HRMHF

Registered Name: Her Rising Menstrual Health Foundation, HRMHF.

Founder: Monica Brown

Registration Date: 30 September 2026

CAC Registration Number: 9899638

Legal Status: Incorporated Trustee, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria.

Motto: Rise With Dignity.

Her Rising Menstrual Health Foundation is a humanitarian service organisation established to support the girl child, particularly through menstrual health education, hygiene support, awareness campaigns, advocacy and the provision of menstrual hygiene products.

The foundation was inspired by the founder’s personal experience with period poverty and her desire to ensure that other girls do not have to experience the same difficulties.

Although menstrual health is central to its registered principal activity, the foundation also seeks to contribute to the broader development and empowerment of girls through educational interventions, practical skills, awareness and humanitarian support.

MISSION

To promote menstrual health and hygiene among girls and young women through education, awareness campaigns, advocacy and access to essential menstrual hygiene products, while supporting their dignity, education and empowerment.

VISION

A society where every girl can pursue her education and aspirations with dignity, confidence and access to the resources she needs to thrive.

CORE VALUES

1. Compassion – Responding to the needs of vulnerable girls and women with empathy.
2. Dignity – Promoting respect, self-worth and dignity for every girl.
3. Empowerment – Creating opportunities for girls and women to realise their potential.
4. Equality – Promoting access to opportunities regardless of background or financial circumstances.
5. Integrity – Upholding honesty, accountability and transparency.
6. Service – Demonstrating commitment to humanitarian work and community development.

LEADERSHIP AND TRUSTEES

* Monica Brown – Founder, Trustee and Trustee Secretary.

* Maria Otu – Chairman and Trustee.

* Dr Bella (Ekpenyong Bassey) – Trustee.