A group of non-governmental organisations have hosted inmates of Umuahia Correctional Centre for the 2026 World Humanitarian Day to pray, donate books, food items, and organise a football march for them.
The group includes the Compassion Champions Initiative also known as Compassion Connectors Nigeria, and the Education and Sports Department of the centre in the Abia State capital.
Others were Igbo National Union Worldwide, Mmesoma Foundation, Alaigbo Human Rights Network, Aham Integrated Network, Dr Chukwudi Chika, Igwe Chibueze, and George Imo.
At the event, the president of Compassion Champions Initiative, Uwalaka Uchechukwu, who coordinated and led the outreach team, said it was organised to give the inmates a sense of belonging.
”Some of you have stayed here for up to five to 10 years or more. Maximise this opportunity, take advantage and learn a skill so that when you leave here you can do something for yourselves,” he said.
While urging them to consider their stay as preparatory for a brighter future, he lauded the president of Vision Africa, Archbishop Sunday Onuoha for his inspiring humanitarian work for them.
In his discourse, Pastor Smart Uwalaka, who is also an educator, admonished them to look up solely to God who has the power to turn things around from negative to positive.
He urged them to guard their minds by studying the word of God, engaging in exercise, making quality friends, learning a skill, and most importantly, forgiving one another.
In his remark, the administrative secretary of Igbo National Union Worldwide, Mazi Austin-Mary Ndukwe, said representatives came from Aba and Egbema in Imo State to identify with the inmates.
Similarly, the founder, Nmesomachi Foundation, Dr. Chika Chukwudi, who was represented by Kalu Ndukwe and Chinonyerem Ogbunachara, donated 30 copies of his book, Blue Economy – Gateway to a Sustainable Future, to the centre.
He said the book, which focused on wealth from the sea and marine resources, is to support inmates undertaking courses through the National Open University.
In his response, the officer-in-charge of the centre, Ojiakor Michael Mabia, thanked the groups for their consistent support for the centre.
While noting that the greatest challenge facing the centre is overcrowding, he added that “the centre which was built for 500 inmates has almost 1,000 inmates now”.
The Education and Sports coordinator of the centre, Isaiah Blessing Ugwo, thanked the group for identifying with the inmates and the centre on such a significant day.
