Kwara First Lady Spreads Christmas Cheer to Inmates, Reaffirms Commitment to Rehabilitation

 

The Kwara State First Lady, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, has extended goodwill to inmates of the Ilorin Custodial Centre, Okekura, and the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Mandala, with the donation of food items and toiletries as part of activities to mark the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Prof. AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the Commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Nnafatima Imam, said the visit and donations were driven by the need to promote love, compassion and a sense of belonging among inmates and officers of the correctional facilities.

According to her, the season offered an opportunity to remind those in custody that they remained valued members of society. She noted that correctional centres were not only for punishment but for rehabilitation and reintegration.

“This gesture is to show togetherness and love, especially during this festive season, so that inmates and officers can also share in the joy of Christmas and the New Year,” she said. “We will continue to support the correctional centres, and we encourage inmates to embrace reformation so they can return to society as better individuals.”

The Controller of Corrections, Kwara State Command, CC Emmanuel Olohunshagba, described the intervention as timely and impactful, thanking the First Lady for her consistent concern for the welfare of inmates and correctional officers.

“We sincerely appreciate the wife of the governor for her humanitarian gesture and her unwavering commitment to improving the wellbeing of inmates and officers across the state,” Olohunshagba said.

Earlier, the Officer-in-Charge of the Ilorin Custodial Centre, Okekura, ACC Omole Olumuyiwa, acknowledged the continuous support of Prof. AbdulRazaq, noting that her interventions had contributed to positive changes within the facility.

“This support will go a long way in transforming lives and strengthening our collective pursuit of a safer and more humane society,” he stated.

Similarly, the Officer-in-Charge of the Mandala Custodial Centre, ACC Olaniran Adeniran, commended the First Lady while appealing for further assistance in areas such as security enhancement, vocational skill development, solar lighting and provision of boreholes to improve living conditions and encourage behavioural change.

Items donated during the visit included bags of rice, beans, garri, spaghetti, vegetable oil, eggs and various toiletries.

Speaking on behalf of the inmates, Joseph Joy expressed gratitude to the Kwara State Government and the First Lady, describing the visit as reassuring.

“This visit reminds us that we are not forgotten,” she said. “The reforms, training and empowerment programmes we have received here have helped reshape our lives. Society is expecting much from us, and we are becoming better people.”

She appealed to the government to consider granting amnesty to deserving inmates.

Another inmate, Adebisi Adesakin, also praised the First Lady’s gesture, noting that the opportunity for reformation was rare.

“I remember last year you were here, and you are here again today. It shows we have not been forgotten,” he said. “There is nothing like freedom, and we humbly seek amnesty for our release.”