A Christian group, Prison Fellowship Nigeria (PFN), Niger State Chapter, is to sponsor 1,000 prisoners to register for the WAEC and NECO-organised Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations in the next five years.

Pastor Peter Okere, the Chairman of the chapter, announced the gesture in Suleja, Niger, at the end of the chapter’s 2018 Week of Prayer on Sunday night.

“It may interest you to know that PFN trains and enrols inmates for WAEC Senior Secondary Certificate Examination and National Examinations Council programmes.

“We assisted about 100 inmates in Niger and the Federal Capital Territory to sit for the 2018 Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations.

“PFN also has a mission and mandate of engaging the Christian community to pursue justice and healing to the end that offenders are transformed and relationships with the community restored.

“We have achieved this through family support for the stability of the spirit, soul and body of inmates.

“Our medical doctors, nurses and lawyers have been providing free services.

“We also gave material support in form of clothes, foot wears and toiletries; paid for prescribed drugs and provided support for surgery of the inmates,” he said.

The cleric added that the group organised pre-release empowerment programmes for some inmates.

Okere called on churches and other communities to collaborate with PFN in meeting the needs of the prisoners.

He said that God is compassionate to those suffering, and called on public-spirited individuals to do same.

“One day there will be no more suffering. God wants you to wipe away tears from the faces of the incarcerated. Help someone grieving today,” he urged.

He also advised inmates to turn a new leaf.

The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Maria Zugogi, who was represented at the occasion by Justice Ishaku Usman, urged PFN to continue with reintegrating released prisoners into the society.

“Being in prison is not condemnation. There is always a second chance to turn a new leaf,” the judge said.

The PFN’s ‘2018 Week of Prayer’ also featured investiture of some personalities as the group’s patrons. (NAN)