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Sara Abdul vow to rehabilitate inmates, exconvicts in Abuja, Sokoto others

Published

6 years ago

August 19, 2019

The president and founder of the Shamies Usual Heart Foundation, nongovernmental organization (NGO) Sara Abdul has vowed to work with different agencies as well as Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) to rehabilitate twenty nine inmates in Abuja, plateau and Sokoto states respectively.

Abdul who stated this in Abuja while celebrating her birthday to launch her NGO said her main target is to rehabilitate inmates currently servicing with mere offences and unable to seek self help or expresses themselves before law enforcement agencies over pretty offences as well reform exconvicts back to the society.

According to her, the NGO will focus more on empowering and rehabilitating inmates both male and female especially those on remand with minor offenses in Abuja, Sokoto and Jos prison respectively to kick the objectives of the foundation.

‘The main objectives of the foundation center on prison care, rehabilitation of inmates as well ass and exconvicts reform, the foundation will fight for inmates who could not fight for themselves just for little offences, we want to rehabilitate exconvicts back to the society.

We have chosen three states after carrying out some internal works to identified states to start with and came up with Abuja, plateau and Sokoto states respectively.

‘How can someone be reminded for stealing a chicken, that showed such person cannot pay bills but need empowerment, we want to rehabilitate some by working with others government agencies to empower inmates and exconvicts back to the society.

According to her, the foundation is not only to bail them out, rehabilitate but engage them in skills acquisitions for the betterment of Nigeria.

‘Personally, I have been doing this job for some years now before laughing it today officially because it will be difficult for me alone to handle it,

So far, I have identified twenty nine to rehabilitate both male and female, my target is one hundred to empower from now till October but so far, I have gotten twenty nine from three states over petty off fences and are spending more time that they should spend.

‘It beat me to think, someone who stole chicken of one thousand five hundred naira are in prison, let’s me tell you, Some people don’t even visit prison to know how it look like until they are involved, you need to visit prison to see what imamates are going through, she enthused.

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Ogunlesi backs Tinubu reforms as FIRS chairman Adedeji highlights export-led economy

Published

11 hours ago

October 6, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

After a high-level meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, Nigerian-born global investor Adebayo Ogunlesi expressed renewed confidence in the country’s economic reforms, indicating potential mega investments across energy, aviation, and port sectors.

He was joined in that optimism by Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), who stressed that the reforms were laying the groundwork for an export-driven economy.

Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Ogunlesi praised the sweeping policy changes under Tinubu’s administration, including the removal of subsidies, tax reforms, and the revival of a refinery already exporting aviation fuel.

“We had an excellent meeting where we discussed how to put Nigeria front and center for international investment. The President was very encouraging, and we shared useful suggestions on driving economic growth,” Ogunlesi said.
Although he declined to reveal specific details, Ogunlesi confirmed that his firm is actively investing in Nigeria and assessing new opportunities.

“Watch this space. Nigeria is not yet the most exciting investment destination, but that’s what we are working on,” he teased.

Pressed on the sectors of interest, Ogunlesi highlighted energy, gas, aviation, ports, and renewables. Drawing on his firm’s experience with LNG projects in Texas and Australia, he noted Nigeria’s massive untapped gas reserves.

On aviation, he acknowledged his reputation as “the guy who bought Gatwick Airport” and signaled interest in similar ventures locally.
He also admitted that one of his companies operates ports in Cotonou and Lomé but none in Nigeria, a point Tinubu reportedly challenged him on.

“He forgave me but said, ‘you have to bring port investment to Nigeria,’” Ogunlesi recounted with a smile.

International investor Hakeem Bello-Osagie, who was also present, underscored the importance of diaspora participation in Nigeria’s growth story.
“When Nigerians at home and abroad invest in Nigeria, it sends a strong signal to the world,” he said, lauding Tinubu’s policies for making the country “investable.”

Echoing the sentiment, FIRS chairman Adedeji described the reforms as the foundation for an export-led economy.

“We’ve done the fundamentals, and now it is time to deliver growth,” he said.

With global players signaling confidence, the momentum for Nigeria’s economic repositioning is gaining ground, setting the stage for transformative investments in key industries.

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