Enugu First Lady Hails CSTS, Enugu, For Equipping, Certifying Correctional Personnel With Skills
The Enugu State First Lady, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, on Thursdays hailed the Correctional Service Training School Enugu (CSTSE) for equipping and certifying correctional personnel with skills required for maintaining safe, secure and humane custody of correctional institutions.
Mbah gave the commendation during a novelty match and cultural display at CSTSE in honour of Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike, President/Founder of Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP).
The match between Correctional Service Training School Enugu Staff team and the 12th DSC Development Course Participants team ended in a goalless draw.
Represented by the State Chairperson of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Rita Edeh, the governor’s wife, commended the Correctional Service Training School for their continued efforts towards reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
“Your work requires commitment, discipline and compassion, and I appreciate the Controller-General of NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, and the commandant Controller of Corrections Miriam Mere for their faithful service to our state and nation,” she said.
On the novelty football match, Mbah said that the greatest victory in sports is not necessarily the scoreline, but the friendships strengthened, the bonds created, and the spirit of togetherness demonstrated.
She said, “To our cultural performers, thank you for giving us the opportunity to appreciate the beauty and richness of our heritage.
“To our celebrant, Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike, I congratulate you warmly. May this celebration be a reminder of the goodwill you have inspired among people, and may you continue to enjoy strength, wisdom, fulfilment, and God’s abundant.”
The Commandant of CSTSE, Miriam Mere, said that apart from cultural and sporting events, “we are honouring, Monsignor Prof. Ike, who is an icon of social justice, human dignity, and institutional transformation.
Mere, who is a Controller of Corrections, said, “For over four decades, through the CIDJAP, your unyielding commitment to inmate welfare, free legal aid, and restorative justice has reshaped correctional administration across Nigeria.
“By extension, your intellectual and structural interventions have consistently fortified this training school, enabling us to better fulfil our mandate of moulding disciplined, professionally competent correctional officers.
“To capture the full essence of your life’s work which balances discipline with compassion, we chose to honour you through a showcase of our national unity and physical readiness.
“The vibrant cultural displays you witnessed from the course participants through the diverse tribal tapestry of officers drawn from over 21 states of the federation and the FCT, unified under one national command.”
Mere applauded the Controller-General NCoS for renewed investments in the school and Mbah for his support to security agencies in the state.
Responding, Ike appreciated the Controller-General of NCoS and Mere for the honour accorded to him and his CIDJAP officials by a “VIP welcome to the Correctional Service Training School and hosting the event in his honour”.
He applauded the Controller-General of NCoS for investments in the school, the judicious use of resources, and the neatness of the facility.
Ike said, “As an individual and also through CIDJAP, I will continue to support NCoS facilities in any possible way we can and through that uplift humanity.
“Whether someone is sentenced or not; first, we must acknowledge that he is a human being and must be accorded all rights and privileges of the human person and treated fairly.”
Ike publicly announced the invitation of the school to the 40th anniversary of CIDJAP and reiterated his continued support to the school.
This, he showcased, by donating four water storage tanks to assist the commandant’s ongoing water rehabilitation and reticulation project, little token to the players, adding: “we also explore others means of assisting this school,”
Highlights of the event were inspection of a guard of honour by Prof. Ike, presentation of appreciation award plaques to Ike for his support for social justice and to the General Manager of Rangers International FC Enugu, Mr Amobi Ezeaku, Esq, for his visionary partnership in advancing inmate rehabilitation and staff development through sports.
Thus, reinforcing the physical readiness and mental resilience and operational cohesion of officers and men of CSTS, Enugu.
There was also a display of dances of different ethnic cultural groups by the course participants.
Also in attendance was the Zonal Coordinator Zone M Nigerian Correctional Service Assistant Controller-General of Corrections, P. C. Oku, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Special Duties to the First Lady of Enugu, Mrs Chidimma Egeonu Esq., the Officer-In-Charge Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Enugu, Deputy Controller of Corrections, Dr S.A. Igwe.
Others are: the Deputy Director CIDJAP, Rev Fr. Chidiebere Ani, the Secretary Rangers International FC, Mr Alex Egbo Esq., the Legal Advisor of Rangers International FC, Dr Nnenna Nwomeh, the legal Advisor CIDJAP, Mrs P.C Egbuna Esq. and the in-charge CIDJAP Prison Welfare. Mrs Kelechi Agu.
