Thirty inmates of the Oko Custodial Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) participated and showcased their God-given talents at an edutainment talent hunt held in Benin, Edo State.
The inmates participated in comedy, drama, news casting, dance, singing, among others, at the event tagged: “Yellow Ribbon Edutainment Therapy Programme”.
The programme was designed to educate, enlighten and entertain, as well as for the discovery of talents in the entertainment industry.
The event, which was one of several inmates’ reform and rehabilitation programmes of the custodial centre, was to achieve positive self-discovery during festive periods.
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The Controller of Corrections, Edo Command, Charles Ogwude, was represented by the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of the custodial centre, Sikiru Balogun.
Ogwude, who appreciated the partners for their commitment, noted that NCoS placed a premium on humane custody and on inmates’ reformation and rehabilitation.
He advised the inmates to continue to maximise the various available opportunities in preparing for life outside custody.
Speaking, Edwin Asibor, Co-Organiser and Executive Director of Securing the Creative Goldmine in Youth Initiative, urged the inmates to have positive disposition about life and develop their God-given talents as life in the outside world held lots of prospects for them.
According to Asibor, who is also an advocate of the Yellow Ribbon Project, great men have at one time or the other spent years in prison custody, come out and held great positions.
He further said that the inmates were further motivated when a guest artiste, Asi Oracle, who was once an inmate, made a thrilling song performance, even as he advised that they could achieve great heights with obedience and hard work.
Apart from exhortations from the various partners and guests, the inmates contested keenly in the various areas of talent display, while prizes were awarded to seven winners for extraordinary performances in dance, singing, comedy and rapping. (NAN)