A Catholic Priest and founder of Citizens of Heaven Charity Foundation, Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Echeta, has admonished the students currently held at the Owerri Correctional Centre not to lose hope in God.
This is even as he donated food items and paid the hospital bills of 68 patients across different hospitals within Imo State during his support others visits.
According to him, the visit to the Correctional Centre which was backed with donation of food and toiletries was to emphasize hope and resilience to the students.
He called on the students at the Owerri Correction Centre to strive and live a better version of themselves daily.
According to him, being in a correctional facility should not amount to lost hopes, but rather an opportunity to become stronger and better individuals, even as he donated food to them.
While he emphasized on hope and resilience, he told them that being in a correctional facility does not mean their hopes were lost, but rather an opportunity to become stronger and better individuals.
According to him, they should build a relationship with God, who makes the impossible situations possible, and find strength in their faith, saying the visit was to bring comfort and inspiration to the students, and encouraged them to hold onto hope and work towards personal growth and redemption.
He said “we are here to remind you that God loves you irrespective of your situation, you just have to put your trust in God Almighty to perfect everything concerning you.
“The Citizens of Heaven Charity Foundation initiative was established two years ago with the goal of extending a helping hand, providing support to those in need, making a difference and positively impacting the lives of individuals. Our charity work focuses on bringing hope, assistance, and transformation to those who require it most.
“It is a powerful reminder that human beings should appreciate what we have, value freedom and other blessings while you still have them, because freedom is precious, there is nothing quite like being free, and it’s worth thanking God for. And that is why we have come here to identify with the students of this facility”, the Priest said.
Earlier, the Deputy Controller in charge of the Owerri Correction Centre, Dr Prince Udoka said the centre was working hard to rehabilitate the students to become better.
According to him, it was wrong to address the people there as inmates even as he maintained that they were students currently undergoing rehabilitation in the Correctional Centre.
In another development, Rev Fr Echeta has settled the hospital bills of 68 patients across hospitals within Imo State.
The hospitals include the Imo Specialist Hospital, Umuguma; and Holy Rosary Hospital, Orlu, during which he explained that the move was to lighten peoples burdens.
Echeta said the donations were from his savings and support from his friends to assist people especially the indigent.
He was accompanied by Rev Frs Uche Ukonu and Andrew Mbamara and Barr. Adaora Ekemma, former Chairperson of Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
On her part, former Chairperson of Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Barr. Adaora Ekemma, encouraged the students to hold on to faith and hope for their liberation and restoration of freedom.
