The Enugu State First Lady, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, has praised the Correctional Service Training School, Enugu (CSTSE), for its role in training correctional officers for professional and humane inmate custody.
Mbah gave the commendation during a novelty football match and cultural display organised by the school in honour of Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike. Ike is the President and Founder of the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP).
The event brought together correctional personnel and participants from different parts of Nigeria. It also featured sporting activities, cultural performances and an honour for Ike’s contributions to social justice and inmate welfare.
Mbah praises correctional training efforts
Represented by the Enugu State ALGON Chairperson, Hon. Rita Edeh, Mrs. Mbah praised the school for its continued focus on the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.
She said correctional work requires discipline, commitment and compassion. Mbah also appreciated the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, and the CSTSE Commandant, Controller of Corrections Miriam Mere, for their service.
The First Lady also spoke about the significance of the football match. She said the value of sports extends beyond the final score because sporting events can strengthen friendships and encourage unity.
The match featured the CSTSE Staff Team and participants of the 12th DSC Development Course. The game ended in a goalless draw.
The event also included cultural performances from participants representing different ethnic groups. According to the organisers, the displays reflected the diversity of officers attending the course from more than 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The focus on rehabilitation at the event also reflected wider efforts around social development in Enugu. This includes community-based initiatives such as the CSDA sensitisation and PRA exercise across six Enugu communities, which seeks to involve residents in identifying local development priorities.
School honours Monsignor Obiora Ike
Speaking at the event, CSTSE Commandant Miriam Mere described Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike as an icon of social justice, human dignity and institutional transformation.
Mere highlighted Ike’s work through CIDJAP over several decades. She said his organisation’s efforts around inmate welfare, legal aid and restorative justice had contributed to correctional administration in Nigeria.
She also credited Ike’s intellectual and institutional interventions with supporting the development of the training school. According to her, such contributions have helped the institution strengthen its efforts to produce disciplined and professionally trained correctional officers.
The Commandant said the cultural performances were also intended to demonstrate national unity. She noted that the participants came from more than 21 states and the FCT while serving under one national command.
Mere further commended the Controller-General of Corrections for investments in the training school. She also acknowledged Governor Peter Mbah’s support for security agencies in Enugu State.
The state’s security infrastructure has featured in several recent developments. Earlier, Enugu security agencies assured residents of a peaceful LG election as authorities prepared for the local government polls.
Ike promises continued support
Responding to the honour, Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike thanked the Controller-General and the CSTSE Commandant for the reception and recognition.
Ike also commended the management of the facility for what he described as the prudent use of resources and the neatness of the school. He said he would continue supporting Nigerian Correctional Service facilities through CIDJAP.
He stressed the need to treat inmates with dignity regardless of their legal status. According to Ike, every person remains a human being and should receive the rights and privileges attached to human dignity.
His position placed human welfare at the centre of his message during the event. He also linked his continued support for correctional facilities to broader efforts to improve the treatment and rehabilitation of inmates.
The event’s emphasis on rehabilitation also connects with the role of structured activities in correctional settings. In Enugu, Rep. Chimaobi Atu previously supported media practitioners with digital tools, reflecting another example of skills development and institutional support in the state.
Ike donates water tanks to correctional school
Ike announced that the Correctional Service Training School would be invited to the 40th anniversary celebration of CIDJAP.
He also donated four water storage tanks to support the Commandant’s ongoing water rehabilitation and reticulation project. In addition, he presented tokens to players who participated in the novelty football match.
The donation adds a practical component to the recognition given to Ike during the ceremony. It also reflects the continued relationship between CIDJAP and correctional institutions.
The broader issue of institutional support has also featured in recent Enugu developments. For instance, Peter Mbah’s government has highlighted thousands of development projects across the state, including interventions in infrastructure and public services.
Football, culture highlight ceremony
The novelty match formed one of the major highlights of the event. The CSTSE Staff Team played against the 12th DSC Development Course Participants Team, with both sides ending the encounter without scoring.
The organisers also used the event to promote interaction among correctional officers and course participants. The cultural display provided another opportunity for participants from different parts of the country to showcase their traditions.
Mere said the combination of sports and cultural activities demonstrated physical readiness, unity and operational cohesion. The programme therefore went beyond the ceremonial recognition of Ike.
A guard of honour was also inspected by Prof. Ike during the ceremony. Appreciation plaques were later presented to him for his support for social justice.
An additional plaque went to the General Manager of Rangers International FC, Enugu, Barr. Amobi Ezeaku, for his partnership in promoting inmate rehabilitation and staff development through sports.
Sports have also featured in other Enugu-related initiatives. The state has previously linked grassroots development with broader youth and community programmes, while sporting partnerships continue to provide opportunities for engagement.
Dignitaries attend event
Several officials and representatives from the correctional service, CIDJAP and Enugu State attended the ceremony.
Those present included the Zonal Coordinator of Zone M, Nigerian Correctional Service, Assistant Controller-General of Corrections P.C. Oku. The Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties to the First Lady, Barr. Chidimma Egeonu, was also present.
Other attendees included the Officer in Charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Enugu, Deputy Controller Dr. S.A. Igwe, and CIDJAP Deputy Director Rev. Fr. Chidiebere Ani.
The event also attracted Rangers International FC Secretary Mr. Alex Egbo and the club’s Legal Adviser, Dr. Nnenna Nwomeh. CIDJAP Legal Adviser Mrs. P.C. Egbuna and the organisation’s Prison Welfare officer, Mrs. Kelechi Agu, were also listed among those present.
The ceremony comes amid wider development and institutional activities across Enugu State. Recent initiatives include the South East agro-development programme launched by Mbah and SEDC, which focuses on agricultural development and economic opportunities.
The state has also continued to highlight community-level projects. The SEDC’s planned 50,000-hectare agro-mechanisation project is another initiative linked to employment and development across the region.
Focus on justice and human dignity
The ceremony ultimately combined recognition, sports, cultural expression and discussions around correctional rehabilitation.
Mbah’s commendation centred on the role of the Correctional Service Training School in preparing personnel for their duties. Meanwhile, Mere used the occasion to recognise Ike’s long-standing work around social justice, human dignity and inmate welfare.
Ike, in turn, reaffirmed his willingness to support correctional facilities and donated water tanks to the Enugu school. His remarks also stressed the importance of treating inmates fairly and recognising their humanity.
The event further demonstrated the connection between professional training and rehabilitation within the correctional system. Through sports, cultural activities and institutional engagement, the organisers sought to reinforce unity among personnel and course participants.
Enugu has also recently seen attention on public safety and security matters. An Enugu lawmaker called for safer measures after a Coal Camp drowning, while authorities have continued to engage communities on security and public welfare.
The CSTSE ceremony ended with cultural performances, presentations and the announcement of Ike’s continued support for the school. The participants and organisers also used the occasion to highlight the importance of professional correctional training, rehabilitation and respect for human dignity.
