By Ovat Abeng
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, Anambra State, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke has solicited to spirited individuals, group or organisations to assist Correctional center Onitsha, Anambra State by providing the inmates Solar lights.
He also emphasized the Paramount aspect of renovating the roofing sheets of the edifice at the Correctional center to a modern roofing sheets which he said the existing ones has become obsolete.
Archbishop Okeke made the appealed on Thursday, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Chaplaincy, Onitsha Correctional Center during his 72nd birthday which he celebrated with the inmates, saying that he observed during his trip to Europe that people who are imprisoned could also be useful after serving their jail term.
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According to the Prelate, when I traveled to Europe, I visited their Prisons and the majority of inmates were Ndigbo. I discovered that many of these inmates after serving their jail term becomes useful to themselves and their parents unless the person doesn’t want to be useful to himself. Some were educated from the prison yard and became linguistics, some would acquire skills while some got transformed due to the environment.
“And that is why I am soliciting to people to assist own our Correctional center so that after the inmates have finished serving, they would be able be useful for themselves.I have built Skills acquisition, and provided essential things inside the facilities but I want power supply to be installed inside it so that the inmates could make use of the equipment and other things” Archbishop Okeke stated.
Delivering his homily during the thanksgiving Mass to mark the occasion, Archbishop Okeke explained that thanksgiving is a gratitude while gratitude is a feeling of appreciation for good things someone has done for you.
He said, “You must express gratitude when it is real. Gratitude not expressed is not real. Gratitude must be expressed before it is accepted to be real.”
Archbishop Okeke who doubles as the National grand Patron of the inmates emphasized that there are so many reasons to express gratitude to God.
“You can give gratitude to God because He keeps you alive. You can express gratitude to God because He grants you success in your business. You can give gratitude to God because of your achievements. Someone can as well as express gratitude to God because of safe trip. It is a duty for you to express gratitude anytime you received good thing,” he stated.
He noted that expressing gratitude to God is imperative in someone’s life, saying that it attracts more blessings from God, pave way for more prosperity and progress.
Appreciating his guests, the Chaplain of St. Maximilian Kolbe Chaplaincy, Rev. Fr. Bartholomew Okpalaugo on behalf of management, staff and inmates felicitated with the Archbishop Okeke on his birthday.
He described Archbishop Okeke not only a good shepherd but a blessings to inmates, saying that his visit to Correctional Center is always a blessing to inmates.
He recalled that there was a football tournament organised by the inmates in the honour of Archbishop’s birthday, praising Archbishop for his giant strides in the Correctional center.
He also appreciated numerous Priests religious, lay faithful and friends of Correctional Center and government officials who graced the event.
Also speaking, the Anambra State Controller of Correctional Center, Anslem Ike praised God for the life of Archbishop Okeke, praying God to grant him more years with good health.
He revealed that he is the 20th Controller of Correctional Center in Anambra State and he has been hearing about the achievements of Archbishop Okeke in Correctional Center.
He expressed that he was privileged to meet Archbishop Okeke one on one alive.
Equally commented, the Anambra State Chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi however described Archbishop Okeke as a beacon of hope and good shepherd Onitsha Archdiocese, wishing him long life and sound health in his birthday.
On her part, deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress APC in the forthcoming November 8, 2025 guber election in the state, Senator Uche Ekwunife, commended the Archbishop for his continue dedication to the prison ministry and his generosity to the inmates.
Ekwunife’ promised that APC will extend it dividends of democracy to the Correctional facility, if voted into power, come November 8.
Other dignitaries at the event included; the Governorship candidate of Young Progressives Party (YPP), Sir Paul Chukwuma and his deputy, Uzuokagbue, APGA National Chairman, Sly Ezeokenwa, Governorship candidate of Labour Party, Chief George Muoghalu and Chief of Staff to former governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, Primus Odili,
Among the items donated to inmates by Archbishop Okeke included; Toilet soups, Assorted tissue paper, laundry soap, Assorted Toot pasts, Biscuits, Bottlted water, Birthday cake, Cooked Rice, 2 life cow-One slaughtered amongst other.
