Precious Ahiakwo
As part of rehabilitation process for inmates in Correctional Centers, the Nigeria Library Association, Rivers State Chapter, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Sky-Waves, has launched a Build-a-Library Project for inmates at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Center.
The project was launched during the installation ceremony of Otonye Ekine as the third President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Sky-Waves.
Initiator of the Build-a-Library Project, the National Treasurer of the Nigeria Library Association, Dr Juliet Allison-Mecha, said the project will provide learning opportunities for personal development, well-being and, ultimately, rehabilitation of prisoners.
“What inspired this launch was during a visit to the prison yard by my Association to donate books, some of the inmates were yearning for books to read, they were calling on us to help them that they want to read and better their lives back there in the prison.
“The controller told us some of them are even going to school from the prison yard, which means books can make corrections in the lives of the inmates. You can imagine when a library is here and what change and hope it will bring to lives here”, she said.
On his part, President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Sky-Waves, Otonye Ekine, said Rotary will continue to support projects that will foster a culture of reading through areas of focus in basic Education and Literacy.
“This is a star project for us as a club, and we hope to achieve it by the end of the Rotary year next year.
“We need more partners and sponsors to achieve this. We hope to create Hope in the lives of the inmates and give them reasons to appreciate life. That’s what we do in Rotary”, he said.
Also, Chairman, Rivers State Chapter of the Nigeria Library Association of Nigeria, Dr Nyemezu Chidaka, and Vice President of Association of Women Liberians in Nigeria, Professor Jennifer Igwela, said the intervention will give inmates access to resources that would bring about mind transformation, educate the inmates and instill reading culture in them.
“Library is everyone’s business and until we start having library just like the way we have our Chemist’s shops, lives will not change. Library can mould characters.
“If you get to the prisons, you will see that some of our youths are languishing, and some of them are eager to read, so they will be meaningful when they get out. This library when established will also go a long way to help even the staff of the prison facility to learn more”, he concluded.
