Imo Information/Advocacy Targets  Reformation Of Juvenile Offenders

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Dan Opara

 

The Senior Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor,Chief Emeka  Ihedioha,on Information and Advocacy,Hon.Adaora Onyechere,was last Tuesday,Nov.26th 2019,embarked on a momentous program to empower and reform juvenile offenders at the State Prisons in order to enable them become useful citizens and make impact to the society when freed.

 

The initiative which would last for three days “26th to 28th November 2019” took place at the Nigerian Correctional Services, formally and otherwise known as Nigerian Prisons Services in the state was flagged off by the state governor.

 

Adaora while addressing news men immensely stated the importance of reorienting and empowering  juvenile offenders between the age  of 18-25 years to become reformed stressing categorically that juvenile offenders within that age bracket exhibit  high level of restiveness character wise and become even more heart hardened when they mingle with the older offenders.

 

She further added that the state government lead by  governor Ihediohia through his visionary policies and mantra of rebuilding the state is solemnly poised to actively engaging these youths to becoming useful asset to the society however, reveling that the governor through the engagement of the Nigeria Correctional Service (Nigerian Prisons Services) the State House of Assembly and Judiciary through the Attorney General of Imo State will look at setting up a Committee on Prerogative of Mercy to pardon these juveniles following the lawful and due process.

 

“The initiative is about advocacy and will mark a turning point in the state and the whole of southeast and southsouth as well because it’s the first of its kind. The world is increasing in population on daily basis and according to the United Nations statistics, youths amounts to 45% population. Similarly in Imo state, out of the estimated 5.3 million populace, above average are jobless youths rampaging the state society”,she said.

 

Speaking on “For now, I am looking at reincorporating juveniles behind the four walls of the state prison yard through the support of the state government by establishing a borstal institution where they will be empowered through various skill programs and reorientation of character which will enhance their value to the society”.

 

The SSA to the governor however advised youths to always remain patriotic and shun any form of restiveness in the state.

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