In the spirit of the 60th year Anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence, the First Lady of Imo State, Barr. Chioma Uzodimma has visited Hospitals, Orphanage and Motherless Babies Homes and Correctional Centres in the state where she doled out cash gifts and other palliatives to the people.
The visits, which the First Lady started on Thursday, October, was rounded off on Friday, October 2.
The Thursday visits saw Barr. Uzodimma at the Newborn, Maternity and Gynaecology Wards at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where she interfaced with babies and their mothers, giving them cash gifts household items, and words of encouragement.
From there, the First Lady proceeded to the Mercy Homes Orphanage, Orji, in Owerri and to the Love Care Orphanage Homes, Obinze, near Owerri.
At the Orphanage Homes, Barr. Uzodimma also gave cash gifts for the upkeep of the orphans and motherless, food items and other household materials.
More importantly, the First Lady had time to play with the orphans and the motherless she met at the Homes before calling it a day.
On Friday, the entourage of the First Lady berthed at the Banquet Hall of the Government House Owerri where she hosted the physically-challenged persons drawn from the 27 local government areas of Imo State and beyond before proceeding to the Nigerian Correctional Services, Medium Security Custodial Centre, Owerri.
The physically-challenged were treated to a heroic welcome at the Banquet Hall by Barr. Uzodimma before they were handed over with cash gifts, walking aids and different palliatives from the First Lady.
At the Nigerian Correctional Services, the First Lady stormed the place with loads of beddings, food items, beverages, and other palliatives that elicited joy on the faces of the inmates and their officials and gave them hope that a better Nigeria beckons.
Barr. Uzodimma used the opportunity of the visits to tell the people not to lose hope in Nigeria and to trust their leaders to be sincere with them.
She particularly thanked them for believing in the government of Imo State led by his husband, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and reiterated that Governor Uzodimma’s administration has come to serve the people with sincerity of purpose and with the fear of God.
At the Nigerian Correctional Services, the First Lady reminded the inmates of the circumstances that brought them to custody and the need for them to leave the place contributing their quota for the development of the society.
She said she trusts the process of the Nigerian Correctional facility and in due time, “hopes that with our collaborative efforts, inmates will be reintegrated into the society again for good.”
Speaking generally on her visits the First Lady said: “These outreaches have further exposed me to the situation of things at these facilities, which I did not find impressive.
“I shall liaise with the relevant authorities to ensure restoration of these facilities and that necessary tools are provided.
“It is believed that through these avenues, we can register smiles on the faces of these our brother and sisters in commemoration of the season.”
The First lady commended the reception accorded her and her team during the visit to the Correctional Centre, noting, that “the band, song, and sundry performances were topnotch.”
She said: “My office is the first of its kind to visit and felicitate with the officials and inmates of NCS, and the officials did not hide their joy.”
The First Lady was accompanied in all the visits with the wife of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Bola Njoku, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Nkechi Ugwu, am on other prominent government officials.