Corps members donate food stuff, toiletries to prison inmates

Some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Cross River on Wednesday donated food stuff and toiletries to inmates of Afokang Prison in Calabar.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the corps members donated four bags of rice, 20 cartons of noodles, 700 packets of toothpaste and toothbrushes as well as beverages.

The corps members also donated 250 religious books, among other items.

The President of Corps members, known as Charity Group, Mr Christian Maxwell, said that the donation was to demonstrate love and care to the inmates.

Maxwell said that one of the objectives of the group was to help the needy and to also put smiles on the faces of the poor and those forgotten by the society.

“It is important to show love and care to the inmates; their freedom may be restricted for a period of time, but they are still citizens of this country and will be free someday,’’ he said.

He advised the inmates to have a positive outlook toward life, while encouraging them to look up to God for a brighter future after serving their terms.

A member of the group, Mrs Helen Ajayi, also advised the inmates not to be discouraged over their present situation, and stressed the need for them to be loyal to the prison authority.

Receiving the items on behalf of the inmates, Mr Godwin Okon, a Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, thanked the corps members for their kind donation.

Okon, who described the donation as humanitarian, said that it would go a long way to ameliorate the condition of the inmates.
Mr Ogban Ogban, an NYSC official, who accompanied the corps members on the visit, assured the inmates that the NYSC would continue to remember them in its activities.