The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Welfare has visited and donated cash, food items and toiletries worth thousands of naira to the inmates of the Medium Security Prisons, Uyo, the state capital, as part of its ministerial responsibilities to the larger public.

Presenting the items at the prisons premises, on Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Emmanuel Edet, expressed her appreciation to Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and wife, Martha, “for the continuous support given the ministry to carry out its social responsibilities of caring for the less-privileged and socially disadvantaged in the society.”

Dr. Edet, while praising “the selfless and humanitarian services carried out by officers of the Prisons Service in caring for and taking care of the many inmates”, appealed to public spirited individuals, groups and corporate bodies, not to give up on the inmates, but to show love and make their welfare of great concern to them, while encouraging the inmates not to lose hope, but to “look on to the brighter side of life.”

Receiving the items on behalf of the State Comptroller of Prisons, Dr. Regina Clement Akpan, the Deputy Comptroller, Rev. Ben-Rabbi Freeman, expressed deep gratitude to the Commissioner and the State Government for the gesture, saying that “a visit to the inmates in prison by anybody, groups or organisations, is an obedience to the Biblical injunction of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.”

The Deputy Comptroller maintained that “the Prisons Services is a Reformation Centre for the inmates, who are in conflicts with the laws of the land, with the hope that they will go back home better citizens, after serving their jail terms.”

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Welfare, Mrs. Cecilia E. Inyang, while appreciating the prisons authorities for “the good work of reforming the inmates”, urged them to continue in their good works; expressing the optimism that the inmates will come out reformed.

News Express reports that the social welfare commissioner was accompanied to the prisons by Directors of Social Welfare, Mercy Ukpong; Child Development, Mrs. Veronica Okon and Desk Officer of Orphans/Vulnerable Children, Mrs. Benedetta Udoekwere.

•Photo shows Gov Emmanuel.

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