The Controller of Corrections in Enugu State, Mr Nicholas Obiakor, says sports remained a veritable tool for reformation and transformation of inmates and ensuring that they add value to the society.
Obiakor, who is also the Commander of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) Enugu State Command, said this on Tuesday in Enugu while kicking off the Enugu Custodial Centre Annual Inter-Hotels Football Competition.
The competition, which is involving eight participating team going through a round-rubbing format, would last between Aug. 6 and Sept. 6, 2024.
The controller said that the football competition was organised to further promote the reformation of inmates and allow them to experience the game they love playing despite being in the correctional centre.
He advised the participating teams and individual players to put up good sportsmanship and compete fairly, adding that the competition was meant to promote friendship and love among the inmates.
According to him, the competition will make inmates think less of committing crime and improve their social life and communication within themselves leading to health friendship.
"I must appreciate the Controller-General (C-G) of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, for his vision of making sports a cardinal tool for the reform and total transformation of inmates.
"The C-G provided sports facilities as well as its follow-up rehabilitation, reformation and transformation as a great avenue to transform our inmates to assets, mega sports stars and laurel winners for our country," he said.
Speaking, the Officer in-charge of the Enugu Custodial Centre, Mr Sunday Oyakhire, noted that the competition would help to improve the inmates' physical and mental health as they would be engulfed in the positive emotion football brings.
Oyakhire, who is a Deputy Controller of Corrections, commended the C-G for providing sports facilities especially the custodial centre football pitch and other facilities that made the competition possible.
"We are grateful for all the support our amiable and priactive C-G is giving to the centre and this competition for it to be a huge success," he said.
He said that the competition, which will obey all fair-play rules, is being officiated by FIFA-badged referees and other officials.
The eight participating teams included: IDR Team, Convict Team, LKP Team, G and M Wards Team, F and J Wards Team, C Team, D Ward Team and N Ward Team.