Children of inmates who are serving jail terms at different correctional centres can contribute meaningful to the society and overcome negative societal influence if government, individuals and corporate organizations provide necessary supports.
President, Oyo state Prisons Fellowship of Nigeria, Reverend Boyede Sule stated this while speaking at the fellowship’s Promise Path holiday boot camp, organized for children of inmates in Ibadan and Oyo town.
Reverend Sule said the children are vulnerable and can become tools in the hands of criminally minded individuals if proper attention was not given to them
He said such children are prone to stigmatization, negative influence and low self esteem, hence the need for government and well meaning Nigerians to provide psychosocial support, mentorship and financial assistance.
He said “Every child is a responsibility of everybody, because if we do not take care of them now, they will become problem for us. That’s why we’re trying to handle these ones now, the seed the sow into a child will grow and bear fruit.
“So definitely we believe they will become ambassadors of Christ wherever they find themselves. So the society must see to the responsibility of every child, especially the less privileged. For our organization, during holidays like this, we mentor them. If the children are not hear now, they might be somewhere causing trouble, but they are hear, listening to what will change their lives.
Speaking on the theme “My Path, God’s Promise”, the project coordinator, Reverend Kayode Oluyombo appealed to the children to believe in themselves irrespective of life challenges, noting that God has bigger plans for them to succeed in life.
Reverend Oluyombo also urged them to be obedient, God fearing, truthful and have the mindset of doing the right thing at all times.
He said “The programme is to teach them the way of the Lord, to make them God fearing, that anywhere they go in life, they’ll love to do the right thing, so that all the plans of God for them will come to past”
The holiday camp which had in attendance over fifty children of inmates between age 6 and 15, featured mentorship, counselling, Crafts making, Bible study and gift presentation
