Foundation Distributes Another Set Of  Food Palliatives To Police, Correctional Centres In Anambra

By Chuks Eke*

The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation distributed 400 bags of rice, 1,000 cartons of noodles, and 50 cartons of disinfectant to all correctional centres in Anambra State, just a week after distributing thousands of 50 kg bags of rice and other items to less privileged members of society during his 65th birthday celebrations.

The Foundation also donated 1,000 bags of rice and 200 wrappers to the Anambra State Police Command.

During a brief ceremony on Friday and Saturday, the items were handed over to Mr Usifo Joseph, Comptroller of the Correctional Service in Anambra State, and CP Aderemi Adeoye, Commissioner of Police in Anambra, for onward distribution.

Mr Chris Ezike, Chief of Staff of the Emeka Offor Foundation, stated during the handover that the gesture was the Foundation’s way of positively impacting inmates in all correctional facilities so that when they are released, they will be better citizens.

Ezike stated, “The Founder of the Foundation, Sir Emeka Offor, recently turned 65 years old, and as a humanitarian, we saw why those incarcerated in Anambra correctional facilities should also benefit from the largesse to celebrate his birthday.”

“Inmates require financial and guidance support to ensure that their time in correctional facilities yields positive results in their lives and society as a whole.

“This is the first time the Foundation has reached out to correctional facilities throughout the state, and we intend to make it an annual event to ensure that we contribute our quota to improving their conditions.

“The gesture is intended to provide care and support to inmates in correctional facilities throughout the state. Although the inmates are currently undergoing rehabilitation for a variety of offences, we believe that when they are released, they will be productive members of society.”

He encouraged the inmates to use the items, remembering that the Foundation did it to show love for them despite their current situation.

Mr. Usifo Joseph, the Comptroller of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Anambra State, expressed gratitude to Sir Emeka Offor on behalf of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa.

Joseph stated “Sir Emeka Offor is a rare gem. He has demonstrated that he is a man with a big heart, who cares not only about himself or his immediate family but also about people he does not even know.

He promised to distribute the items to inmates all over the state, thereby improving their welfare and well-being.

The items will be delivered to correctional facilities across the state in the following order: Onitsha Correctional Centre will receive 165 bags of rice, 411 cartons of noodles, and 20 cartons of disinfectant, while Awka Correctional Centre will receive 102 bags of rice, 256 cartons of noodles, and 13 cartons of disinfectant.

Nnewi Correctional Centre will receive 82 bags of rice, 205 cartons of noodles, and 10 cartons of disinfectant; Aguata Correctional Centre will receive 31 bags of rice, 77 cartons of noodles, and four cartons of disinfectant; and Awka headquarters will receive 20 bags of rice, 51 cartons of noodles, and three cartons of disinfectant.

Also, while receiving their items from the Foundation at the State Police Command Headquarters in Amawbia on Saturday, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, described the gesture as one of the largest gifts ever given to the police by a private sector operator.

Adeoye stated that the items will be distributed equally among state Police Officers Wives Association members.

The CP praised the foundation for the unusual gesture and expressed the Command’s gratitude for the Foundationion’s support, adding that the items would help the police mitigate the effects of the country’s current economic downturn.

Speaking during the handover of the items, Offor explained that the gesture was motivated by the fact that security is critical to economic development and that the donation was part of his contribution to alleviate the current economic hardship faced by the country.

He added that the annual gesture was part of his 65th birthday celebrations.

He also used the occasion to commend the state police for maintaining a peaceful environment before, during, and after the 2023 Christmas and New Year celebrations, as well as for reducing the activities of unknown gunmen in the state, such as cultism, kidnapping, drug abuse, and other crimes.