Enugu First Lady hails NCoS for maintaining safe, humane correctional institutions
The Enugu State First Lady, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, on Thursday hailed the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) for maintaining safe and humane correctional institutions.
Mbah gave the commendation on Thursday during a novelty match and cultural display at NCoS Training School, Enugu in honour of Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike, Founder of Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP).
The match between NCoS Training School staff team and NCoS 12th DSC Development Course Participants team ended in a goalless draw.
Represented by the State Chairperson of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mrs Rita Ezeh, the governor’s wife commended NCoS and its training school for their continued efforts towards rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration.
“Your work requires commitment, discipline and compassion, and I appreciate the Controller-General of NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, the state controller of corrections and the training school commandant for your faithful service to our state and nation,” she said.
On the novelty football match, Mbah said that 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 blessings.”
Speaking, Assistant Controller-General of Corrections in-charge of Zone M, Enugu, ACG Prisca Oku, commended the Controller-General of NCoS for leveraging sports to reform and create friendly atmosphere in NCoS facilities.
Oku also hailed the commandant of the training school for honouring Prof. Ike for his monument humanitarian contributions and assistance rendered to NCoS facilities.
Earlier, Commandant of NCoS Training School in Enugu, Miriam Mere, said that apart from cultural and sporting event, “we are honouring, Monsignor Prof. Ike, an icon of social justice, human dignity and institutional transformation.
Mere, who is also 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 fulfill our mandate of moulding disciplined, professionally competent leaders.
“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, Oku and Mere for the honour accorded to him and his CIDJAP officials by a “VIP welcome to the NCoS 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 said that he would continue to support the school and “immediately I am donating four water storage tanks, little token to the players and we also explore others means of assisting this school,”
Highlights of the event were inspection of a guard of honour by Ike, presentation of award plaque for “Excellent in Service” to him and the General Manager of Rangers International FC, Amobi Ezeaku.
There was also display of dances of different ethnic cultural groups by the course participants.