On his 73rd birthday, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, the Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, visited the National Correctional Centre in Onitsha, Anambra State, to distribute relief items to inmates.
Okeke said the annual gesture was “a way of showing love to the inmates, giving them a sense of belonging and expressing gratitude to” the prison community, underscoring the church’s commitment to outreach beyond parish walls.
The National Correctional Centre, a major prison facility in southeastern Nigeria, housed the inmates who received the donations. Anambra State, one of Nigeria’s most densely populated regions, has a long‑standing partnership with religious organisations that provide social support.
The Archbishop’s birthday celebration has traditionally included charitable acts, and this year’s visit continued that pattern by delivering essential items to the incarcerated population, a move he described as an expression of solidarity.
By marking his birthday with a service to those behind bars, Okeke highlighted the role of faith‑based groups in offering humanitarian aid and fostering a sense of community among marginalized groups in Nigeria.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>