THE atmosphere was quite warm and communal that afternoon but the setting in no way tells this was a prison enclosure for female inmates.
It was indeed a fun-filled afternoon for the inmates at the Kirikiri Female Prison, Apapa, Lagos, as Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church donated a multi-purpose hall to the management of the prison to further decongest the overstretched facilities.
With a number of musical and artistic displays during the commissioning of the hall, the inmates, who danced all through, felt thrilled by the philanthropy of the church. In the midst of the activities, some were busy taking photographs to remind them of their travail in prison.
It was also a burden lifted for the management of the prison that had been crying for its decongestion. The female prison is built to accommodate 105 inmates but today, as much as 173 are being kept in the space.
According to the Deputy Controller in-charge of the female prison, Mrs. Folashade Akinwale, the prison is a model female prison that has made history in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa with 173 lock-ups. Out of these 173 lock-ups, 31 are condemned, 134 are on awaiting trial, five of them on C.C and three unnamed.
“ Over the years, these facilities deteriorated and needed upgrade; and against this background, the church sought and got permission to build this hall, which is known today as ‘Amazing Grace Multipurpose Hall’ for the comfort of the inmates’, she added.
“We wish to invite other bodies to help in the restructuring work. I believe this is not a place of condemnation but of correction.”
The General Overseer of the church, Bishop (Mrs.) Chioma Grace Dauji, said the donation would spark off the feeling of oneness in the inmates that Nigerians care for them.
She said, “The inmates have to see where they are as a corrective centre and not a condemnation point. They can become what they want to be in life if they understand this. Being here does not take away their dreams in life and this is why we have come to minister onto them.”
Addressing the inmates, Dauji said, “We want to get you back to Christ so that when you come of the prison you will be useful to the society and the Kingdom of God. You need to embrace God and preach the Word of God upon your completion of jail terms.”
Speaking on the gesture, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was represented by Dr. Tunde Okpeyebi, said the gesture was a milk of kindness to the society, adding that the state is impressed with the church’s action and urged others to do the same.
