Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo has gifted N5,000 each to 1100 inmates of Onitsha Correctional Service.
This was part of events to mark the 70th birthday of the Catholic Archbishop of Oniitsha, His Grace, Most Rev (Dr)Valeria Okeke.
Speaking, Soludo advised the inmates to be of good behaviour and repent of their sins to be able to mix up with the outside world when they complete their tenure.
He added that the Anambra State Government would take financial care of those of them who would want to sit for external examinations.
The governor also presented indomie noddles, biscuits, toiletries even as his wife, Nonye Soludo, presented cake to the inmates.
The Archbishop thanked God for attaining 70 years saying that he always celebrated with the inmates for them to feel the fatherly love.
He pointed out that the skill acquisition centre he built for the inmates which was commissioned during the occasion, was for them to be professionals on completion of their prison terms.
He presented a life cow, killed one cow that was cooked with 10 bags of rice, biscuits, toiletries, 100 mattresses, 50-bunk beds, cake, among others to the inmates.
Speaking, the Comptroller General of NCS, Mr. Haliru Nababa, on behalf of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, honoured the celebrant with Grand Patron award in appreciation for what he had done for the Onitsha centre.
Nababa, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche, also commended the Archbishop for the building of the skill acquisition centre for the inmates.
He thanked Governor Soludo for his payment of external examination fees for inmates taking external examinations and pleaded to other governors and good spirited individuals to emulate Soludo.
Former Governor Chris Nwabueze Ngige, while speaking said he built one cell and renovated a portion of the perimeter fence even as he commended the Archbishop for marking 70 years.
Earlier, papal Nuncio of Czech, Amb. Archbishop Jude Okolo, recalled that the celebrant was his contemporary in the seminary school, disclosing that he was brilliant which earned him his present position.
Among those who graced the occasion were: Senators Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial Zone; Emeka Idu; and all House of Assembly members from Onitsha state constituency on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).
