By Ovat Abeng
The Archbishop of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Anambra State, Most Rev Valerian Maduka Okeke, has celebrated this year 2026 Easter Sunday with inmates of Onitsha Correctional Center.
The celebration took place at the premises of the Correctional facility on Sunday, April 5th, 2026.
In his homily speech, tittle; Faith and Prayers” the Archbishop urged the inmates to have absolute faith in God and to maintain love with each other.
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“I urged you not to feel isolated and finished but to seek the face of God for freedom and redemption. Used the painful experience you gathered to bring change to the society after after serving your jail-term.
“Be strong. being in prison is not the end of life, as you can get corrected and enjoy salvation, even before the freedom.
“Faith is important key to the journey of life. Even in the faces of the current political and socio-economy challenges in Nigeria, faith remain the only weapon Nigerians should work on to overcome it.
Okeke emphasized the importance of faith to human existence and urged the inmates to have faith and look on to God.
He admonished the Inmates to unveil themselves with the opportunities such as the skill acquisition center, education and other opportunities provided in the Onitsha Correctional center for their own good as according to him would go a long way in making them useful to themselves and the society at large after serving their terms.
The Archbishop also advised Christians and non-Christians to always show love to everyone around them including their enemies if they have, noting that the love of God has no boundaries.
In his contribution, the Chaplain of the facility, Rev Fr Bartholomew Nnamdi Okpalaugo, commended the Archbishop for his love and care for the Inmates, mostly his prayers which according to him has set many Inmates free. He further thanked the Archbishop for identifying with the inmates and by showing them a sense of belonging through provision of relief materials for them.
In his brief remark, the controller Anambra state correctional centers, Mr Ike Anslem, thanked the Archbishop for his continue assistance to Onitsha Correctional center, praying to God to reward him with long life and good health.
The celebration also featured the donation of bags of rice, cow and toiletries and sharing of Easter cake.
