BENIN CITY – As part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 58th Independence anniversary, the wife of Edo state Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki has assured inmates of Oko Medium Security Prisons, Benin City of government partnership in the change and transformation of their lives.
She gave the assurance on the occasion of the anniversary celebration held at the Prisons in Oko, Benin City.
Mrs Obaseki also promised to upgrade the Skills Acquisition Center in Oko prisons, saying, “I will partner with the management and staff of prisons to develop a proper skill acquisition curriculums so as to carry every one along.”
She charged those serving their jail terms to take seriously what ever skills they are learning, assuring that she would provide soft loans to those who complete their jail terms and have acquired skills that could help them secure employment.
Speaking at the occasion, the state Controller of Prisons, Mr Joseph Usendiah disclosed that the Controller General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed is presently planning a long term sustainable growth in Nigeria prison service.
This, he said is evidenced in the area of training and retraining of staff member and focus on infrastructural investments and value for inmates.
In a remark, the first Controller of Prisons, sir. Lily-Ojo(CGP rtd), Charged guests to always extend hands of fellowship to prison formation.
In a remark, Pastor Stanley Okofu on behalf of the inmates of the Medium Security Prisons, OKo, said that the celebration of the Nation’s Independence with them in the Prisons is a celebration of growth and maturity in the attainment of their goal of reformation and rehabilitation of lives.
He said that about 86 discharged inmates of the prison have successfully gone through the All Nations for Christ Bible Institute, 19 inmates enrolled and passed WAEC and NECO examinations, while nine inmates graduated from the University, amongst others.
Admonishing people at the occasion, the General Overseer Tetra Edge Church, Rev. James Arheghan, said, “Freedom is the key for us to live,” saying that “for you to be in freedom, you must know the truth about life.”
He emphasized that freedom is not the ability to do what ever one likes, but, doing what is right.
Said he, “One can not be truly free or sustain freedom without good character.”
The Inmate General Provost of Oko prisons, Charles Omawumi, who spoke at the occasion described the prison as “a structure to restructure the future of the criminal minds.”
