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The Enugu State Government has pledged its support to sports activities and development within Custodial Centres in Enugu State.
The state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu, made the pledge after watching a novelty match played in his honour in the Football Pitch of Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre on Wednesday.
Ekweremadu, who was highly impressed by the talents displayed by the inmates during the match, noted that the state government through his ministry would see how best to harness the football and other sporting talents within the centre.
According to him, these talents I spot today will be more useful beyond this place and as a ministry, we will see how best to pursue their freedom.
“When they are freed, the ministry will see how best to attach them to the state football team – Rangers International FC – for their talents to blossom to national and international limelight.
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“Apart from football, the ministry will also support other sports which the inmates have shown artistic mastery and have passion for.
“I must commend the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Enugu State Command officials in this centre for taking time and resources to discover these talents I watched today,” he said.
Earlier, the Controller of Corrections in Enugu State, Mr Nicholas Obiako, said that it was good that the highest sports authority in the state had decided to partner the Command.
Obiako, who is also Commander of NCoS Enugu State Command, noted that he intimated the commissioner on the needs in the centre as well as sought his support for more sports facilities and development progammes within the centre.
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“This rare visit of the commissioner is in line with the philosophy of the Controller-General of NCoS, Mr Haliru Nababa, in using sports as a tool for rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration of our inmates back to the society,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Sunday Oyakhire, Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre, said that it was the first of its kind and at a very short notice, adding that it remained an impetus to push the centre further in using sports for reformation of inmates.
According to Oyakhire, the commissioner’s coming has brought a lot of meaning to our inmates’ sports reformation programmes and activities.
“The commissioner's visit demonstrates that our inmates are not people abandoned. As the commissioner is useful to the society; he is also useful and relevant to our sports reformation within the centre, here.
“He has given our inmates, especially those with passion for sports, a sense of belonging and that there is hope for them as they are part of the society.
“We also believe that he will take our goodwill message to our amiable Governor, His Excellency Dr Peter Mbah, on the excellent things happening in terms of sports within our centre,” he said.
In the novelty match played in honour of the commissioner; ATM team defeated IDR team by 2 – 1 after 90 minutes of play.
