Mrs Otti Leads Humanitarian Outreach to Afara Correctional Facility, Donates for Inmates’ Upkeep

The wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has led a humanitarian outreach to Afara Correctional Facility in Umuahia, where she delivered a message of encouragement, redemption, and renewed purpose to the inmates.

The visit, which is part of activities marking the second anniversary of the Otti-led administration in Abia State, underscored the administration’s belief in the dignity and potential of every Abia citizen, regardless of circumstance.

Addressing the inmates, Mrs Otti encouraged them to remain hopeful, engage in self-reflection, and take practical steps toward a better future.

She emphasized that the correctional facility should not be seen as an end, but an opportunity for renewal and transformation.

The Abia First Lady further promised to step up her support for skill acquisition and empowerment programmes within the correctional facility, having already extended such interventions in the past.

According to her, strengthening rehabilitation through skills development is key to ensuring that inmates can successfully reintegrate into society upon release.

The Governor’s Wife also revealed ongoing efforts by the current administration to partner with the Ministry of Justice, legal aid organizations, and civil society groups to expand access to justice for inmates who lack proper legal representation.

The initiative is part of a broader justice reform agenda that places rehabilitation, not rejection, at the heart of the correctional system.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Maureen Aghukwa, praised the Governor and his wife for placing the welfare of the vulnerable at the forefront of the administration.

Aghukwa encouraged inmates to see their current situation as a temporary phase and to make the most of every opportunity for learning and transformation.

In her welcome speech, the Controller of Abia State Correctional Centre, Mrs. Josephine Ogbeifun, expressed profound gratitude for the timely and impactful outreach.

Ogbeifun lauded Mrs. Priscilla Otti, for her consistent and compassionate support to the facility, describing her as a dependable ally and a mother figure to both staff and inmates.

She said the governor’s wife has demonstrated unwavering commitment, making it a personal responsibility to stand by the facility at every critical moment.

She prayed for renewed strength and continued success in her humanitarian endeavors.

An inmate who spoke on behalf of others thanked Mrs Otti for what he described as a motherly gesture that has rekindled hope and dignity among the inmates.

The visit, which featured the donation of essential supplies, including a cow, bags of rice, beans, toiletries, and cash support, attracted the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu, and several senior government officials.