Author: The Nation

I feel relieved because the things my husband is not available to do for me and my children, God is using some people to do. I am very grateful.”

 These were the heartfelt words of Mrs. Grace Prosper, one of the beneficiaries of the Angel Tree 2025 Programme and Children Charisma Party, organised by Prison Fellowship Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State Chapter, and held recently at The Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), Ikeja, Lagos.

 Speaking with The Nation, Prosper, who also participated in last year’s edition, noted significant improvements in her life and that of her children. She, however, appealed for sustained support for families of incarcerated persons.

 “We are grateful for the help, but we hope there will be regular interventions for people like us,” she said. “Our needs go beyond food and shelter. We need emotional and psychosocial support because there are things on our minds we often wish we could share.”

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 The event, which brought together families of inmates, children, and caregivers, featured the distribution of food items, clothing, cash support, and educational materials—drawing smiles and appreciation from beneficiaries. The outreach was supported by The Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC) and The Prison Ministry of The Apostolic Church LAWNA Territory.

Addressing participants, Chaplain Mike Adeyemo, Chairman of PFN Lagos State, said the fellowship had strengthened its intervention packages this year to better meet the needs of inmates’ families.

“We have improved on our intervention with better packages for the families of inmates,” he said. “Our joy is that the children and families will not have to depend on neighbours. These outreaches give them hope.”

 Adeyemo explained that PFN partners with churches willing to host the programme. “We don’t roster churches. We approach them, and any church that agrees hosts us. The churches are trying their best,” he noted.

He urged mothers to guide their children properly and encourage the children to take education seriously.

 “Education forms and reforms the mind. Take it seriously. There is hope. Many of these children can become good citizens, and history must not repeat itself,” he said.

Also speaking, Fabulous Bamidele Orji, Chairman of the Planning Committee, described the 2025 celebration as “extraordinary,” noting a significant expansion in scope.

 “This year is not ordinary. We increased the scale of what we do,” he said. “We prepared for about 100 families, and with their children, we are catering for nearly 400 people. They came from across Lagos State and even from Ogun State.”

 Orji explained that PFN’s annual end-of-year party is designed to stand in for what incarcerated parents would ordinarily provide during Christmas.

 “If a father is behind bars, he cannot be there for his family. So this Christmas party represents what their daddy would have done for them,” he said.

According to him, beneficiaries received cooked meals, raw food items, clothing, cash support, and educational materials, with transport costs carefully considered based on beneficiaries’ locations.

“It’s not just money; it’s a complete Christmas package,” he explained. “We want them to go home with dignity.”

He stressed the importance of the initiative for children’s emotional wellbeing, recalling past experiences where children of inmates felt abandoned during festive seasons.

“When nobody asks after you at Christmas, it affects a child deeply. But when they see that someone cares, it builds confidence and hope for the future,” he said.

Orji added that PFN’s support extends beyond the Angel Tree programme through initiatives such as Promise Path Project (PPP), which focuses on returning out-of-school children—especially children of inmates—to school by covering fees, uniforms, and learning materials.