By Gloria Mlanga, Abuja
As part of activities marking International Women’s Day (IWD), the Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation has visited the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre to celebrate female inmates and donate relief materials.
The outreach featured the donation of bags of clothes, food items, toiletries and other essential materials to women in custody.
Medical personnel also conducted basic health checks for the inmates, including blood pressure and blood sugar tests.
Speaking during the visit on Sunday, the Assistant Controller of Corrections in charge of the facility, Sunday Eje, expressed appreciation to the foundation for extending its humanitarian support to the inmates.
Eje said he was delighted to receive the organisation, noting that he had previously been aware of its work at the Kuje Custodial Centre.
According to him, he initially believed the organisation’s activities were limited to the Kuje facility, but was pleased to see its interventions extended to Suleja.
He said: “I am really delighted to have you here this afternoon. I am not new to Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation. When I was serving at the command level, I had the opportunity to hear about and see some of their activities.
“At first, I thought their activities were limited to the Kuje Custodial Centre, but incidentally I have now encountered them while serving here. I must say I am happy. Since they have come to celebrate the women we have in our midst, it is indeed a thing of joy.“
He noted that the interaction between the visitors and the inmates provided encouragement and hope to the women in custody.
He added, “Seeing them interact with the women in this way gives the inmates hope and comfort. We believe that by the time they return to society, they will be better informed and ready to contribute positively and immensely to society.”
Eje further commended the foundation’s work at correctional facilities and urged the organisation to extend its activities to more custodial centres across the country.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of the foundation, Amb Sara Abdul, who was represented by the Director of Communications, John Olugbemi, said the visit was aimed at showing solidarity with incarcerated women and reminding them that they are not forgotten.
Olugbemi explained that the outreach was organised to coincide with International Women’s Day in order to encourage and support female inmates.
According to him, the organisation was established to focus specifically on reaching out to people behind bars, adding that, “We are a corrections-focused NGO. Our Executive Director established the Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation to reach out to people in incarceration, to those behind bars.
“Today, being International Women’s Day, we felt it was important to stand in solidarity with the women here. Our aim today is to let them know that they are not alone.”
Olugbemi said the foundation donated food items, toiletries and other essentials to make life easier for the women while in custody.
“We are donating food supplies, toiletries and other essential items that will make life a little easier for them. Beyond donations, we are also conducting basic health checks with the help of medical personnel,” he said.
Also speaking during the outreach, the Chief Executive Officer of Pad Up Africa, Ashley Olachilori, said the initiative was inspired by the theme “Give to Gain,” which emphasises supporting underprivileged women in society.
Olachilori stressed that every woman, regardless of her circumstances, remains an important member of society.
