The Deputy Governor of Ondo State and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Dr Olayide Adelami, has urged inmates of the Olokuta Medium Security Correctional Centre, Akure, to use their time in custody to seek God, acquire vocational skills and prepare for a productive life after their release.
Adelami gave the advice on Friday when he visited the facility as part of efforts to provide spiritual encouragement, welfare support and hope to the inmates.
He said incarceration should not be seen as the end of life but as an opportunity for reflection, transformation and preparation for a better future.
“Being in a correctional centre should not be seen as the end of your lives. It should be a period of reflection, transformation and preparation for a better future,” he said.
The deputy governor urged the inmates to strengthen their relationship with God and take advantage of the vocational and educational programmes available at the centre.
He said acquiring relevant skills would make them self-reliant and help them return to society as productive members after regaining their freedom.
Adelami also advised the inmates not to allow past mistakes to determine their future, but to learn from them and turn over a new leaf.
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“Please seek God, strengthen your faith and use this opportunity to acquire skills that will make you self-reliant when you regain your freedom,” he said.
He later visited the Juvenile Correctional Centre in Akure, where he interacted with children serving various sentences.
Adelami encouraged the young inmates to reflect on their actions, change their attitudes and take advantage of available opportunities to learn and prepare for their reintegration into society.
He assured them that their present circumstances should not prevent them from becoming responsible and productive members of society, stressing that they still had their entire lives ahead of them.
The Officer-in-Charge of the Olokuta Medium Security Correctional Centre, Mr Olayinka Dada, commended Adelami and members of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Ondo State, for their continued partnership and support for the correctional service.
Dada said the interventions had contributed to the welfare and rehabilitation of the inmates.
He also acknowledged improvements in infrastructure and welfare under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, particularly the ongoing construction of a modern cell block at the facility.
He disclosed that some inmates were currently pursuing various academic programmes through the National Open University of Nigeria.
The visit featured the presentation of foodstuffs and other essential items to the inmates as part of efforts to support their welfare, rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society.