First Lady Mrs Priscilla Otti has pledged that the state government will provide skill acquisition training, educational support and legal representation for inmates of the Aba custodial centre of the Nigerian correctional service. She made the pledge when she paid a scheduled visit; the first by a sitting first lady of the state to the Aba custodial centre hitherto referred to as Aba Federal Prisons. She embarked on the visit in line with the philosophy of the state governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti to evolve a new and all inclusive Abia.The facility tour which took place on Friday the 26th of November 2024 afforded Mrs. Otti the opportunity to interact with the management, officers and inmates at the corrections centre. The visit by the governors’ wife in accordance with her husbands drive to change the long held negative narrative in Abia that nothing good could come out of the state was an ecstatic moment for the inmates and their minders. The joy expressed by inmates knew no bounds thinking that those regarded as the lowly, confined and not to be seen could be remembered within the corridors of power prompting such high profile first ever visit to the facility. In identifying that the visit by Mrs. Otti was the first of its kind, the Controller of corrections Abia State Command of the Nigerian Corrections Service J. M. Anyanwu reported that the facility had long anticipated such visit and the coming of the august guest was a dream come true for the facility housing over eight hundred inmates. On Mrs.Ottis’ entourage were the S.A to the governor on special duties,. S.A. on women affairs, S.A. on women mobilization, mayor Aba south local government area, state president of FIDA amongst others. This speaks of the high profile nature of the visit in recognition of the vital role of corrections in the security network of Abia and human capital development even for those who are incarcerated. The wife of the governor noted that her husband’s Government is committed to offer support to those who may have been wrongfully detained without trial but do not have access to legal representation. She advised inmates not to be limited in their vision because of incarceration but to transition from the corrections facility into outstanding members of society. As a mother she revealed that her desire is to empower the inmate’s in every way possible to ensure they live to their full potential and feel the love of a mother though they may be locked away at the corrections centre. ‘Incarceration is not the end of life but a process of correction and atonement for past errors’ she admonished inmates who listened with rapt attention greeting every of her words with intermittent loud ovations and thunderous hand claps. The joy of the controller of corrections Abia state command of the Nigerian corrections service J. M. Anyanwu was boundless as she welcomed the first lady of the state. Controller Anyanwu pointed out that the focus of the facility is not punitive but to reform and reintegrate inmates into society and this keys into one of the visions of the Alex Otti government which is human capacity development. The corrections officer stated that the centre had established training facilities for vocations such as tailoring, electrical works,welding, shoemaking, carpentry, bead making, hairdressing and adult education. She however pleaded with Mrs.Otti for more support in expanding these facilities to accommodate more inmates willing to learn a skill or two while they are locked up. Mrs. Otti acceded to the request made by the controller pledging her husband’s support in expanding the skills centre. The wife of the Governor in keeping with her magnanimous personality made donations of cash and various food items to the inmates for the enhancement of their immediate welfare promising that the state government ably led by her husband Dr. Alex Chioma Otti will always be on hand to offer assistance and succour to inmates going forward. In appreciating the august visitor, inmates of the Aba corrections centre composed and rendered songs to receive the wife of the governor alongside other presentations. They were equally afforded the opportunity for a one on one interaction with Mrs. Otti. The management team, officers, and other groups present ended the visit with a photo shoot etching a lasting impression of the coming of Mrs. Otti to Aba custodial centre.