By Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, (The Guardian Newspapers Benin city)
WHEN Miss Ijeoma Igbonwelundu, a Batch B member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from Anambra State was posted to Edo State for her primary assignment, little did she know she would have her first close contact with convicted prisoners and other detained but awaiting trial at the Oko Maximum Security Prison.
The prisoners too must have seen Youth Corps members come and go, but they could also not have known that Ijeoma Igbonwelundu would touch their lives in a special way.
But for her, many of them on Awaiting Trial might have stayed for only God knows how much longer as detainees.
Now, the Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osagie Obayuwana has promised to look into such cases with a view to facilitating their trial.
He said it was unjust that so many people could be held in detention, their freedom denied even when the state had no case against them.
Obayuwana
spoke at the commissioning of a basket pitch and a volleyball pitch for the inmates of Oko Prisons Benin City constructed by Ijeoma Igbonwelundu.
She said the project, which was part of her community development service project was borne out of her desire to make some positive impact in the lives of the less-privileged in the society.
The 24-year-old graduate of Mass Communications said she realized that inmates in the prison needed more than food and clothing to remain psychologically fit.
“I discovered that they needed sporting facilities that would keep them healthy and fit while in jail as well as equip them with talents that may enhance their livelihood after their term as such can help keep them off the path of crime.
“This project is an avenue to let the inmates know that the society cares about their welfare and rehabilitation and wants them to acquire skills that will enable them integrate fully into the society without having inferiority complex.
“It is envisaged that with the sporting facilities, inter and intra -prison competition would be organized, with members of the public as spectators.
“It would be a great day to see novelty football matches between inmates and lawyers or doctors which will send good signals to the society at large.”
Ijeoma, however, noted that there was need to upgrade the facilities in the prison just as she called on governments and individuals to provide the inmates with functional libraries to build up their intellectual capacities.
“Volunteer teachers and lecturers should also consider it an honour to teach these persons. That will contribute towards reducing illiteracy, unemployment and insecurity in the society by educating the over 900 inmates and prepare them for clean, productive life after regaining freedom.”
The provision of the sport facilities at the prison, she said, was financed partly from her monthly allowance, savings and donations from family. friends and government functionaries from the state.
Ijeoma said she was challenged to make a difference in any little way during her service year in the state, which ends later this month.
She had also donated clothes, food items, stationeries and toiletries to Amadin Orphanage Home for Women and Children.
Ijeoma also told The Guardian that a construction firm, Servetek, which is currently reconstructing the Airport Road along which Oko Prisons is located, also donated some items to facilitate her project and had promised to build two more of those pitches in the prison.
Edo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Miss Anita Evbuomwan, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Jerry Iyamu, commended Miss Igbonwelundu for constructing the sports facilities for the inmates.
She noted that the facilities would enhance the reorientation of the prison inmates to begin new ways of life and make them have a sense of belonging.
She urged the prison authorities to use the facilities for the purpose for which they were constructed and endeavour to improve and expand them.
Commissioning the project, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Obayuwana urged members of the public, particularly the youths to see it as a challenge to provide other infrastructure for the reformation of prisoners.
He commended the Corps member, whom she said, has written her name in gold by realizing that the inmates needed sports facilities to keep fit and healthy.
He said the Ministry of Justice was working towards the speedy release of all inmates whose case files showed they had committed no offence against the state.
The NYSC Head of Community Development Service, Mrs. Stella Igechi said it was the first time community development projects would be extended to prisons.
Deputy Comptroller, Oko Prison, Sam Iyakoregha said the gesture would boost the morale of the inmates.
“It is something wonderful as it is well appreciated and as we all know, sports is a veritable instrument of relaxation.”
Some of the inmates who participated in the match played during the occasion expressed their joy and begged for kits to play the games now available to them.
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