By Ononye VC
As preparations for the grand finale of the 70th birthday anniversary of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Rev Valerian Okeke billed for November 23rd 2023 gathers momentum,one of the major highlights heralding the anniversary, which is the commissioning of the multi-million Naira skill acquisition centre erected by the Archbishop inside the Onitsha Correctional Centre, would be performed by the Archbishop on Friday,October 20 2023.
Top on the list of the dignitaries expected is the highest command of Nigeria’s Correctional Service led by the Controller General(CG) Haliru Nsababa Ficmc,mini,mfr.
Other officials on his entourage include the Controller of Corrections,Anambra Command Mr Usifo Ehimeme Joseph and Mr MB Anugwa,the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge,Onitsha.
The Governor of Anambra State Professor Chukwuma Soludo,the Speaker of Anambra State Right Hon Somtochukwu Udeze,members of the state House of Assembly,commissioners are expected on the ocassion.
Former Governor of Anambra State and Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election Mr Peter Obi,renowned Economist Prof Patrick Utomi,top members of the clergy,lay faithful and other personalities will also grace the ocassion.
The skill acquisition project presently estimated at N100m was flagged off by the Archbishop in 2007 and by 2018,he increased the momentum of work on the project.
The Archbishop’s major reason for erection of the project was to empower the inmates with the necessary skills to make them useful to themselves and the society when they eventually leave the Correctional Centre.
The skill acquisition centre has various departments like Woodwork and Carpentry,fashion designing and tailoring,barbing and ICT.
At the last time of inspection,the Archbishop had moved in some major equipment into the centre for effective take off.
Not too long ago,the federal government of Nigeria approved request of the Archbishop to erect a high fence round the facility.In many instances,the Archbishop embarked on periodic inspection of the project with officials of the Correctional centre in Onitsha to ascertain development.
Archbishop Okeke’s passion for welfare of inmates of Onitsha Correctional Centre is unwavering and unprecedented.
This he has been able to display in so many ways.For instance,he visits the Correctional Centre three times yearly since the beginning of his Episcopacy,on Christmas days,Easter and his birthday.The visits were not without his provision of food,toiletries,live cows,clothing’s etc.He was always accompanied by top government officials and other people who donated handsomely towards the welfare of the inmates.
The Archbishop had also renovated some hostels,provided beds and mattresses and installed cable televisions for the viewing pleasure of the inmates.
The Archbishop said on one ocassion that his reason for his prison apostolate was to sacrifice and give hope to the inmates who he described as “our brothers and sisters”.
He has been counseling the inmates to see their incarceration as a period of prayers and reformation.
Apart from material provisions,the Archbishop provided spiritual support with the conferment of sacrament of confirmation on the inmates who have received the holy communion and passed the necessary examinations.
Preparatory to his 70th birthday anniversary,the Onitsha Correctional Centre chaplaincy, Archdiocese of Onitsha led by Rev Fr Nnamdi Okpalaugo,concluded a mini sports fiesta in honour of the Archbishop.
The sports fiesta featured football competition,table tennis competition among other sporting activities.
Archbishop Valerian Okeke performed the kick-off of the football competition.
