The Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation, on Sunday, visited the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre to celebrate female inmates and donate relief materials as part of activities marking International Women’s Day (IWD).
The outreach, which was disclosed in Abuja, featured the donation of bags of clothes, food items, toiletries and other essential materials to women in custody.
Medical personnel also conducted basic health checks for the inmates, including blood pressure and blood sugar tests.
Speaking during the visit, the Assistant Controller of Corrections in charge of the facility, Sunday Eje, expressed appreciation to the foundation for extending its humanitarian support to the inmates.
Eje said he was delighted to receive the organisation, noting that he had previously been aware of its work at the Kuje Custodial Centre.
According to him, he initially believed the organisation’s activities were limited to the Kuje facility, but was pleased to see its interventions extended to Suleja.
He said: “I am really delighted to have you here this afternoon. I am not new to Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation. When I was serving at the command level, I had the opportunity to hear about and see some of their activities.
“At first, I thought their activities were limited to the Kuje Custodial Centre, but incidentally I have now encountered them while serving here. I must say I am happy. Since they have come to celebrate the women we have in our midst, it is indeed a thing of joy.“
He noted that the interaction between the visitors and the inmates provided encouragement and hope to the women in custody.
He added, “Seeing them interact with the women in this way gives the inmates hope and comfort. We believe that by the time they return to society, they will be better informed and ready to contribute positively and immensely to society.”
Eje further commended the foundation’s work at correctional facilities and urged the organisation to extend its activities to more custodial centres across the country.
He also emphasised the importance of women in society, noting that everyone owes their existence to a woman.
“Since it is women that are celebrating today, we must remember that no human being on earth comes into existence without a woman, without a mother. So we are all part of this celebration and we are delighted and happy,” he said.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of the foundation, Amb Sara Abdul, who was represented by the Director of Communications, John Olugbemi, said the visit was aimed at showing solidarity with incarcerated women and reminding them that they are not forgotten.
Olugbemi explained that the outreach was organised to coincide with International Women’s Day in order to encourage and support female inmates.
According to him, the organisation was established to focus specifically on reaching out to people behind bars, adding that, “We are a corrections-focused NGO. Our Executive Director established the Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation to reach out to people in incarceration, to those behind bars.
“Today, being International Women’s Day, we felt it was important to stand in solidarity with the women here. Our aim today is to let them know that they are not alone.”
He added that the organisation also recognises the efforts of the Federal Government in managing correctional facilities and aims to complement those efforts through humanitarian support.
“We recognise that the Federal Government is doing a lot already, and our role is simply to support the government’s efforts,” he noted.
Olugbemi explained that the foundation donated food items, toiletries and other essentials to make life easier for the women while in custody.
“We are donating food supplies, toiletries and other essential items that will make life a little easier for them. Beyond donations, we are also conducting basic health checks with the help of medical personnel,” he said.
He added that the outreach was carried out in collaboration with other partner organisations that joined the foundation to mark the occasion.
Also speaking during the outreach, the Chief Executive Officer of Pad Up Africa, Ashley Olachilori, said the initiative was inspired by the theme “Give to Gain,” which emphasises supporting underprivileged women in society.
Olachilori stressed that every woman, regardless of her circumstances, remains an important member of society.
He said: “This is a unique initiative for us. As the theme says, ‘Give to Gain,’ we have come to reach out to the underprivileged, people who are often overlooked and rarely receive support.
“For us, this is about gaining every woman in society, regardless of where she finds herself. Even if a woman is in a correctional centre, deprived of her freedom due to one offence or another, she is still part of society,” she said.
She noted that empowering women ultimately leads to stronger communities.
“When you train a woman, when you support a woman, you ultimately build and uplift an entire community,” she said.
Olachilori encouraged the inmates not to lose hope, assuring them that incarceration does not mark the end of their journey.
She added, “To the female inmates, our message is clear: this is not the end of the world for you. Women are meant to grow, expand and rise again. However, crime has never been a solution and will never be the solution.
“This is a correctional centre, a place for correction, rehabilitation and reintegration into society. We are waiting for them outside, ready to support and empower them so they can become useful and productive members of society.“
She urge women to support and mentor one another for the benefit of future generations.
“Our message to every woman is simple: mentor another woman. Pick up a girl child, guide her and help shape her future for good,” she added.