Church, Anambra partner on skills acquisition for inmates

TO achieve what Archbishop Valerian Okeke tagged total reformation and rehabilitation of the Onitsha Federal Prison inmates, the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha is to establish a skills acquisition centre there in partnership with the Anambra State government.He disclosed this to the inmates in his homily as part of Easter celebrations at the prison on Easter Sunday.Okeke explained that the centre would have facilities for training in carpentry, computer studies, modern automated auto-mechanic, tailoring, hairdressing, electrical appliances repairs, among others.He said the concept was to make the inmates stay in the prison useful and make for proper rehabilitation and acquisition of new life, adding that if they were transformed only spiritually without providing them with the necessary skills to enable them fit back properly into the society at the end of their term, they might return to their old evil ways.Prison is a place for the reformation of individuals and not to punish them. If they are able to reform themselves while in prison, they will definitely succeed in life outside the prison walls, the Archbishop said.He donated various food and household items, including eight bags of rice, cartons of biscuits, detergents, soaps, a cow, among other things, to enable them celebrate the Easter.Deputy Controller in charge of the prisons, Mr. Anthony Ubaeke, commended the Archbishop for his love to the inmates, recalling that it was his third visit to the prison since December last year.The cleric had earlier refurbished the cells and furnished them with tiles, ceiling fans, mosquito nets and provided them with borehole that serves the entire prisons.Already, priests have been posted to the prisons who take care of the prisoners spiritual and moral needs and guide and instruct them.On the Archbishops programme for the year also, is the completion of the 1,200 Holy Child Youth Village in Awka and a model international secondary school.He observed that by deciding to establish the skills acquisition centre, the Archbishop was thinking ahead, adding that the centre would help to ensure total reformation of the inmates.
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