… As NGO hosts football tournament for inmates
The Comptroller of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Edo State, Mr Sunday Oyakhire, has called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to urgently intervene in the condition of facilities at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Oko, Benin, in order to enhance the reformation process of inmates.
He made the appeal on the occasion of the 2025 Inter-Cell Football Competition, which was organised by the Nigerian Correctional Service in collaboration with the Civic Rights Advancement and Information Initiative (CMC), under the banner “Civil Rights Cup.”
Addressing the guests at the event, Mr Oyakhire stressed the need for the state government to upgrade the facilities within the custodial centre, particularly because a vast majority of the inmates, bout 95 percent are indigenes of Edo State.
According to him, improving these facilities is a worthwhile investment in the future of the state’s citizens. “You can see from the turnout and the match itself—it was so entertaining. I feel proud,” he said.
“Having had this opportunity to invite people to see what is happening behind the wall, they now know that we are not idle.
What we are doing here is something that can be compared to similar efforts anywhere in the world. That is the truth.”
Mr Oyakhire noted that the reformation programmes require the active support of the state government to be effective, particularly through investment in the workshops. “Our workshops need the attention of the state government.
The equipment we have now is insufficient and obsolete. And you know, the world is going technological and sophisticated.
We need the government to provide modern tools, not the old and outdated ones. Our workshops are crying for help,” he said.
He listed the various vocational units at the centre, including a carpentry workshop, a metalwork shop, a tailoring section, and even a recording studio, noting that inmates have already produced music from within the facility. “If the government steps in, we will do even better,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Charity Aiguobarueghian, commended the organisers of the tournament and praised the inmates for demonstrating strong sportsmanship.
She noted that the competition revealed latent talents that could offer the inmates a new path in life once released. In her words, the event proved that “they have talents that can be traded for a good life outside.”
Also speaking at the event, Uyi Omosigho, the lawmaker representing Oredo East Local Government Area, encouraged the inmates to look beyond their current situation.
He reminded them that being behind bars does not mean the end of life and urged them to keep hope alive.
The organiser and founder of the Civic Rights Advancement and Information Initiative, Mr Andrew Akpor, used the opportunity to call on well-meaning Nigerians, organisations, and governments at all levels to support inmates and show them that a meaningful and productive life is still possible, despite their present circumstances.
The football tournament concluded with Block D emerging as the winner of the 2025 Inter-Cell Football Competition, marking a day of both entertainment and advocacy for reform within the custodial system.
