By Abubakar Yunusa
The Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation on Sunday celebrated female inmates at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre with donations of relief materials and health services to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day.
The outreach featured the distribution of bags of clothes, food items, toiletries and other essential materials to women in custody.
Medical personnel also carried out basic health checks for the inmates, including blood pressure and blood sugar tests.
Speaking during the visit, the Assistant Controller of Corrections in charge of the facility, Sunday Eje, commended the foundation for the humanitarian gesture.
Eje said he was pleased to receive the organisation, noting that he had earlier heard about its interventions at the Kuje Custodial Centre before its visit to Suleja.
“I am really delighted to have you here this afternoon,” he said.
“At first, I thought their activities were limited to the Kuje Custodial Centre, but incidentally I have now encountered them while serving here. Since they have come to celebrate the women we have in our midst, it is indeed a thing of joy.”
He noted that the interaction between the visitors and the inmates provided encouragement and renewed hope for the women in custody.
According to him, such engagements help prepare inmates for reintegration into society after serving their terms.
“Seeing them interact with the women in this way gives the inmates hope and comfort. We believe that by the time they return to society, they will be better informed and ready to contribute positively to society,” he added.
Eje also urged the foundation to extend its humanitarian interventions to other custodial centres across the country.
He further stressed the significance of women in society, noting that every human being owes their existence to a woman.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of the foundation, Sara Abdul, represented by the Director of Communications, John Olugbemi, said the outreach was organised to show solidarity with incarcerated women.
Olugbemi explained that the visit was designed to remind the inmates that they are not forgotten despite being behind bars.
“We are a corrections-focused NGO. Our Executive Director established the Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation to reach out to people in incarceration,” he said.
“Today, being International Women’s Day, we felt it was important to stand in solidarity with the women here and let them know they are not alone.”
He added that the organisation also recognised the efforts of the Federal Government in managing correctional facilities and sought to complement those efforts through humanitarian support.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Pad Up Africa, Ashley Olachilori, said the initiative was inspired by the theme, “Give to Gain,” which focuses on supporting underprivileged women.
Olachilori said every woman, regardless of her situation, remained an important member of society.
“This is a unique initiative for us. We have come to reach out to people who are often overlooked and rarely receive support,” she said.
She encouraged the inmates not to lose hope, stressing that incarceration should serve as a period of correction, rehabilitation and preparation for reintegration into society.
Olachilori also urged women to mentor one another and support the girl-child for a better future.
