The Member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Chief Chinedu Ogah, has inaugurated a study facility of the National Open University, at the Abakaliki custodial centre.
Oga inaugurated the facility on Friday as part of activities to mark his 48th birthday ceremony.
He said it was to enhance the educational well-being of the inmates and give them hope of a secured future.
The legislator said the inmates should be encouraged to embrace education while on awaiting trial or serving various sentences.
“The inmates should access free education from the facility and one of my friends have promised to provide 24 computers at the facility.
“The facility will be equipped with internet facilities to ensure that the inmates receive quality education.
“I am also in contact with a United Nations agency and this custodial centre will be part of those to benefit from its intervention,” he said.
He noted that the centre and the one at Afiikpo would receive infrastructural facelift as captured in the 2024 budget.
“We are also providing free drugs for the inmates and urge that they should not be sold.
“Sick inmates should be treated at the centre but those with serious cases should be referred to the Alex-Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.
“We don’t want to further lose any inmate and as the Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, I will ensure you are well provided for,” he said.
Ogah advised the inmates to behave well in order to be useful to themselves and the society when released.
“Those that actually committed the offences being charged with, should repent while the innocent ones should know that God kept them at the centre to be saved.
“Do not threaten custodial centre officials or cause trouble but be reformed with your stay at the centre,” he said.
A Representative of the Controller of Corrections in Ebonyi, Linus Otah, thanked Ogah for his love for the officials and inmates of the centre and prayed for God’s protection upon him.
“You have continued bringing good tidings to the centre and we would continue doing our best to take care of the inmates,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogah cut his birthday cake with the inmates, donated food items and also visited the custodial centre at Afiikpo. (NAN).
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