In a rare show of affection from behind the walls, inmates of the Afokang Correctional Centre, Calabar, on Sunday honoured the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, with a novelty football match to mark his 67th birthday.
The match, played inside the custodial facility, was organized by the Council for Unemployed and Small Scale Business Owners of Nigeria (CUSSBON), Cross River State Chapter, in conjunction with inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Calabar, as part of activities to celebrate a Governor they described as humane, compassionate and reform-minded.
Speaking at the event, the Officer-in-Charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Calabar, DCC V.U. Muokebe, said the inmates were inspired by Governor Otu's People First administration, particularly his interventions in prison decongestion, welfare and justice reforms in the State.
He said the event was significant for two reasons: "First, we celebrate the life, leadership and legacies of His Excellency who has continued to demonstrate commitment to the welfare and development of the people of Cross River State. Second, we use sports as a veritable tool for reformation, teamwork and reintegration, a key pillar of the Nigerian Correctional Service mandate."
"I wish to specially recognize and appreciate the Council for Unemployed and Small Scale Business Owners of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, for this laudable initiative. Your decision to partner with this Custodial Centre and to mark this celebration with our inmates sends a strong message of inclusion, hope and human dignity. You have shown that no one is forgotten and that rehabilitation is a collective responsibility.
"To our gallant inmates who are participating today, I charge you to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship, discipline and unity. Let this match remind us that beyond the walls, we are all one people celebrating one leader and one State."
Represented by his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, Governor Otu thanked the inmates for the gesture, reiterating his administration's commitment to justice sector reform and the welfare and reformation of inmates.
Otu, who made cash donations to both the organizers and the inmates, described the event as a thoughtful gesture aimed at bringing laughter, relief and social interaction to inmates currently facing challenging circumstances.
He assured that the Governor remains deeply committed to the welfare of all citizens and is actively working to restore the glory and dignity of Cross River State.
The Patron of the group and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, said the novelty football match was organized to honour Governor Bassey Otu who, within three years, has transformed the lives of inmates through support for the upgrade of facilities at the Centre.
Ugbo noted that the exercise goes beyond sports to convey a message of hope, reformation and belonging, adding that the initiative was inspired by Governor Otu's compassionate leadership and People First philosophy, which has given inmates a sense of inclusion in the State.
He thanked the management of the Correctional Centre for embracing the initiative and commended the inmates for their discipline and enthusiasm, describing the celebration as proof that talent and the humanity thrive even behind bars, while praying for good health and renewed wisdom for Governor Otu to continue leading Cross River State to greater heights.
The Director-General of the Council for Unemployed and Small Scale Business Owners of Nigeria (CUSSBON) and Commissioner in the Cross River State Sports Commission, Mr. Sunny Ndep, has expressed appreciation to Governor Bassey Otu for his people-centred policies, programmes and achievements, describing them as beneficial to the people of the state.
Ndep also commended the organisation’s patron, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), and the APC candidate for Calabar South State Constituency II, Rt. Hon. Marjorie Asuquo, for their support. He equally thanked the State Controller and Deputy Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Afokang, for providing the organisation access to the correctional facility to interact with inmates and host a novelty football match in celebration of Governor Otu’s 67th birthday. He explained that CUSSBON’s mission was to put smiles on people’s faces, hence its slogan, “Voice for the Voiceless.”
The CUSSBON Director-General disclosed that the organisation had sustained its sports engagement with inmates for the past three years, using the activities to promote inclusion, recreation and social connection. He said the birthday novelty match provided another opportunity to engage the inmates and share in the celebration, while reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to supporting vulnerable groups and creating opportunities for unemployed persons and small-scale business owners.
The highlight of the celebration was a keenly contested novelty match which ended with cheers of "Happy Birthday, Your Excellency" echoing from within the facility.
