Archbishop Donates Bags Of Rice, Cows To Prison Inmates

The Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Anambra, the Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, has donated 120 bags of rice and two cows to inmates of the Onitsha Prisons for Christmas celebration.

Other items donated included meat, 40 special Christmas cakes, biscuits, soaps and detergents.

Okeke, who gave the items on Sunday after a special mass at the prisons’ chapel, noted that 22 inmates and four prison warders attended the service.

In his homily, the archbishop said that Christ came to the world to uplift the status of man by showing how to bring peace, love and progress to humanity.

“Through connecting to Christ, who is the light, we share in being lights of the world; and with light you have direction and clarity.

“Even as we celebrate Christmas, we must imbibe the life of Christ; and the light of Christ that shines through our lives would radiate to others in terms of good works and love shown to them.

“It does not matter where you are, whether in prisons or in government, you can still touch the lives of people around you through positive living and love.

“It then means that each of us can be leader without title when we make our life to be of service to others by making them happy always.”

Okeke said the archdiocese was planning with the permission of the prisons authorities to build a one-stop skills acquisition centre in the Onitsha Prisons.

“The centre will have a computer training unit as well as motor vehicle, motorcycle, generator and handsets repair training workshops, while the existing woodwork, carpentry learning and electronics repair workshops will be expanded,” he said.

Responding, Mr Anthony Ubaike, the Deputy Controller of Prisons, thanked the archbishop for making the inmates happy every Christmas and for his spiritual support to the inmates and the prisons.

Rev. Fr. Michael Ndive, the Chaplain of the prisons chapel, advised the inmates to continue to exhibit exemplary lifestyle, knowing that the archbishop and by extension the church was concerned about their welfare.

The highlight of the occasion was the archbishop’s entry into each cell in the prisons to pronounce God’s protection and blessings on the inmates.