…Distributes Equipment To Support Inmates’ Rehabilitation
By Faith Okon-Egbujiem
The wife of the governor of Cross River State, Bishop Dr (Mrs) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, has renovated and commissioned Skill Acquisition Centers at the Calabar Correctional Centre.
The primary objective of the renovation and commissioning of the skill acquisition centre is to inspire creativity, productivity and renewed confidence among inmates.
Speaking at the event, Bishop Otu, represented by the state Commissioner for Social Welfare and Community Development, ArchBishop Prof. Margaret Ene-Ita, remarked that the initiative reflects inclusivity and beats the drums of hope for the hopeless.
She said, “As a society, we must continue to encourage hope, transformation and self-reliance. The acquisition of practical skills is not only a pathway to economic independence, but also a tool for personal development and reintegration into society.
“The administration of His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, remains committed to promoting human capital development and improving the welfare of vulnerable groups across Cross River State. Through the efforts of my office, we will continue to support programmes that uplift lives and restore hope to those in need.”
Also speaking, the state Comptroller of Corrections, Aniekan Archibong Nya, represented by the Deputy Comptroller of Corrections, Ilo Moses Afamefuna, described the gesture as timely and compassionate.
Stating that compassion is the true foundation of justice, he thanked the governor’s wife for portraying such level of compassion to the seeming hopeless and voiceless in our society.
The centers renovated and commissioned include the
Male Laundry, barbing, carpentry, and welding workshops, female tailoring and hair dressing shops, as well as the educational block.
To equip the centers, Bishop Otu distributed,
Three big plastic bowls, four electric irons, seven packs of detergent and one carton of bleach for the laundry section.
For the tailoring section, she distributed 9 sewing machines, two weaving machines, rolls of weaving threads, eight pairs of scissors, three box irons, six packs of sewing threads, hand needles and machine needles. The barbing salon received 5 rechargeable hair clippers.
Likewise, the welding section received a welding machine, five welding masks, five hand gloves, one box socket, one packet of electrode and three welding tongs; while the hair dressing section received two standing hair dryers, one standing fan, one hair washing basin, rollers, two mannequins, and other hair accessories.
The educational section was not left out as it also received three white boards, 15 tables, 30 chairs, three packets of markers, two cartons of bibles, one carton of Primary English Textbook, one carton of primary Mathematics textbooks and dozens of exercise books.
For extracurricular activities, Bishop Otu also provided a volleyball net and a ball for the females volleyball court.
In addition to these, Bishop Otu has successfully put an end to open defecation at the center by installing an appropriate soakaway pit behind the medical facility, reducing the possibility of a cholera outbreak as well as improving the overall sanitation and hygiene of the facility.
To give the facility a face-lift, she renovated the medical facility, the entrance, and block E1.
Highlights of the commissioning were the presentation of songs by the inmates and a mini volleyball game led by ArchBishop Ene-Ita.
The event was attended by the wife of the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mrs Nelly Ayambem, the wife of the Chief of Staff to the governor, Ass. Prof Virginia Ironbar, the chairman of Calabar South Local Government Area, Prof Archibong Bassey, wives of chairmen, vice chairmen and other political stalwarts.
