They Are Not Forgotten”: OAAF Takes Sanitary Pads, Hope to Girls at Lagos Correctional Centre

LAGOS, Nigeria — They are girls first, inmates second. And for a few hours on a recent weekday, the girls at the Lagos State Correctional Centre for Girls, Idi-Araba, were reminded of that truth.

The Olayinka Aderinkola Akinrinola Foundation (OAAF) visited the facility, donating food items, sanitary pads, toiletries and other essential supplies to the girls.

But the foundation did more than drop off supplies. Its members spent time with the girls, engaging them in conversations, recreational activities and motivational sessions aimed at encouraging them to make positive choices and remain hopeful about their future.

The foundation’s team was received by a senior staff member of the centre, Mrs Olowolekomon, alongside other staff members.

She gave the team a brief history of the centre and explained its role in the rehabilitation and development of the children in its care, sharing anonymous stories about some of the girls and highlighting the centre’s efforts to equip them with the skills, discipline and support needed for successful reintegration into society.

During a tour of the facility, OAAF members observed that the girls were engaged in various vocational activities, fashion design, cooking, catering and others, designed to keep them productive and equip them with practical skills for life after leaving the centre.

Speaking on the purpose of the visit, the Founder of OAAF, Prophetess Olayinka Akinrinola, said the foundation wanted the girls to understand that their present circumstances should not determine their future.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to dream, to learn and to become successful. We wanted these girls to know that they are not forgotten and that their lives can still take a completely different direction,” she said.

“Whatever has happened in the past, they should not allow it to define who they become. They should dream big, believe in themselves and prepare for a future where they can contribute positively to society”.

The Co-Founder of the foundation, Mr Aderinkola Akinrinola, stressed the importance of rehabilitation and preparing young people for life beyond the correctional system.

“What we saw here is a reminder that rehabilitation must go beyond correction. Young people need skills, guidance, encouragement and a sense of purpose,” he said.

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The Project Manager of OAAF, Mr Dara Adenekan, said the interaction with the girls was one of the most significant aspects of the visit.

“We wanted to do more than simply visit and donate items. We wanted to spend time with the girls, listen to them and let them know that their future is still worth fighting for,” he said