61st Birthday: Dame Okowa preaches God’s love to inmates of Warri Correctional Centre

The Wife of Delta Governor and Founder, O5 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa has encouraged those behind bars to key into God’s eternal love which redeems and gives hope for a better future.

Dame Okowa gave this charge on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at the Nigerian Correctional Facility in Warri, on the occasion of her 61st birthday celebration.

The Governor’s wife represented by the wife of the Honourable Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mrs Tobore Oborevwori, urged them not to despair and accept Jesus Christ as their saviour who will see them through this trying time.

“My brothers and sisters, You must have gone through a lot no doubt; you have seen worse days, but no matter what brought you here, as you have heard the word of God, I want you to know that Jesus loves you. He wants to be your Lord and personal Saviour if only you will receive Him with all your heart.

“The Lord is making a demand; He is giving you an open invitation in Revelation 3:20 “Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sup with him, and he with me”.

Dame Edith Okowa who has a commitment to celebrating her birthday with inmates in the five Correctional centres in the state is part fulfilment of her O5 Initiative Prison Outreach as recorded in Matthew 25:35-36, with a mission to feed the Hungry, Clothe the Needy, Care for the Sick, Provide shelter for the Homeless and Visit the Prisoners.

“As you join me to appreciate the goodness of God, I pray that your life will never be the same again. May the word of God find full expression in your life in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

She noted that on previous visits to the prisons in the state, the O5 Team “discovered an increase in the number of inmates with limited facilities ranging from lack of Pipe borne water, proper sanitary facilities, relief materials and shortage of drugs. With the help of God and support from individuals and corporate organizations, these needs have been met.”

Accompanied by wives of some local government chairmen led by the Wife of the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Mrs. Juliet Tidi, Secretary to Warri South Local Government, Mr. Joseph Oribioye, Head of Personnel Management of Warri South Local Government Council, Dr. (Mrs.) Minnie Igbrude, other officials of the Delta State government, Dame Okowa’s entourage were received by the Deputy Controller of Corrections, DCC of Warri Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Edo Joseph Lucky.

In a sermon titled, ‘You Shall Recover’, by Mrs. Tase Odibo, She charged that only those who come close to God will recover what God has promised, drawing reference from 1 Samuel 30: 1-8.

Speaking earlier, DCC Edo revealed that a newborn baby and 927 inmates are currently at the Warri Custodial Centre of the Service. The mother of the baby is one of the inmates at the Correctional Centre.

He described the Warri Centre as very special and solicited assistance to enable the Nigerian Correctional Service, Warri, to take proper care of the newborn baby and improve the welfare of inmates.

Inmates of the Correctional Centre, pleaded with Dame Edith Okowa to use “her motherly passion and love for Christ” to influence her husband and Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to remember them for pardon.

The high point of the celebration was the cutting of the Birthday cake by the Dame Okowa with the inmates alongside her entourage.