The Enugu State Government has pledged its support to sports talents, activities, and development within custodial centers in Enugu State.
The state commissioner for youth and sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu, pledged after watching a novelty match played in his honour on the football pitch of the 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 centres.
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 into national and international limelight.
“Apart from football, the ministry will also support other sports that the inmates have shown artistic mastery and passion for.
“I must commend the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and Enugu State Command officials 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 with the Command.
Obiako, who is also Commander of NCoS Enugu State Command, noted that he informed the commissioner of the needs in the centre as well as sought his support for more sports facilities and development programs within the centre.
“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 into society,” he said.
Speaking, Mr. Sunday Oyakhire, Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre, said the event was the first of its kind and at very short notice, adding that it remained an impetus to push the centre further in using sports for the reformation of inmates.
According to Oyakhire, the commissioner’s arrival has brought a lot of meaning to our inmates’ sports reformation programmes and activities.
“The commissioner’s visit demonstrates that our inmates are not abandoned people. As the commissioner is useful to 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 there is hope for them as they are part of society.
“We also believe that he will take our goodwill message to our amiable governor, 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, the ATM team defeated the IDR team by 2–1 after 90 minutes of play. (NAN)
