CDGN Donates Sewing Machine, Food Items To Oko Correctional Centre
By Simeon OSAJIE
As part of its efforts to give back to the society, members of the Edo State chapter of Creative, Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN) yesterday, 25th July, 2025 paid a visitation to Oko Correctional Centre, Airport Road, Benin, Edo State capital and donated sewing Machine and food items to the inmates.
The food items include Creates of Minerals, Packets of Tooth Paste, Rolls of Tissues Papers, Cartoons of Noodles, Carton of Sachet Detergent Soap, Carton of Tomatoes Paste, Spaghetti etc.
Thanking them for the donation, the Deputy Controller of Correctional Centre, in charge of Oko custodial Centre, Mr. Eromosele Henry, said that they are very grateful for the items brought to them.
“I want to thank you all for what you have done for the less privileged and God will bless you people for your kind gesture,” he add.
Eromosele therefore said, they like Oliver twist that they will always ask for more and pray to God to meet their needs.
Highpoint of the event is when the group paid visit to the inmates inside the correction centre to see how they are doing.
In an interview with journalists after his interactives session with the inmates, Edo State Chairman of CDGN, Mr. Osagie Walter Obamwonyi who stated the purpose of their visit noted that there are many things going on the society which members of the public are not privilege to and called on parent to take time to monitor the activities of their children.
According to him, “I learnt one thing that a lot of people here are convicted for things they didn’t do, whether intention or unintentionally they have been convicted and they are here. I would want parent to took time out of their busy schedule to check the activities of their children, because they may not be involved in things police or members of the public accused them of.
“Like today, we came here with sewing machine. I understand they have a lot of crafts here and part of those crafts are still on here and we felt given them a sewing machine will also enhance their productivity. And we also came with some food items to support the correctional centre.
“For the freeway of God, for the free will of God, for the things that God had given to us we are here to lend our little support to them in little way we can.”
Also speaking, the National Financial Secretary of the CDGN, Pastor Presley E. Oravbiere said that the visitation has opened his eyes to a lot of things, noted that there are so many person who are really in here, who are innocent and who really did not commit crime.
According to him, “Here is worth visiting. I would want to urge people if you have, please let them take time to come visit the people. There are challenges here. From my visit today, I’ve also learned that I would personally come back here again to donate to the Correctional Centre. And it’s really touching seeing people inside here.
“So, it’s what we’ll keep doing from time to time. The society support us in our craft. So, we also need to support the society back and this one of the ways we feel we can do it.
“Yeah, like people here they will tell you they are in the Freedom Republic. Please the head of the prison that is the inmate, they call him ‘General’ hear. What he was telling us is that there are so many people; I touch you; innocent people for nothing sake. There are ways we can avoid being here. If anybody touch you, want to fight you please walk away, walk away from trouble. There are some that you will just touch and they fall.
“Murder case, there are many inside here. There are some like what one said, girlfriend came to visit, day break didn’t wake up. There are many inside here. So, in any way we can avoid crime, please let’s avoid. In any way we can avoid trouble, run far away from it.
Mrs. Funmi Walter is a member of the entourage. She said: “And I learnt to be contented with whatever you have. No matter what you have, freedom is the key. Nothing like freedom in life. When you have your freedom, even when you don’t have money, you have it all.”
On the entourage of Osagie Walter Obamwonyi are Pastor Presley E. Oravbiere – National Financial Secretary CDGN, Greg Omostama – Edo State Vice Chairman, CDGN, Pastor Osayande Joseph Onaghise – Edo State Provost, Osakpolor Uyigue, Blessing Eguaveon, Okpaire Cletus, Mr. Love Osadolor, Mr. Ferdinard (aka Balogun), Mrs. Funmi Walter.
