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The Osun State Chief of Staff, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, has presented newly pardoned prison inmates with Point-of-Sale (POS) machines and startup cash to support their economic rehabilitation and help them rebuild their lives.
The beneficiaries were granted state executive clemency last year by Governor Ademola Adeleke as part of a state-wide penal reform and reintegration program.
Following their release, the former inmates voluntarily joined grassroots mobilization efforts during the 2026 Osun governorship election, campaigning across local markets and communities to support Governor Adeleke’s successful re-election bid.
To honor their rehabilitation progress and political engagement, Akinleye handed over the business tools and financial support during an official presentation, announcing that a dedicated monitoring team will track the beneficiaries’ business performance over the next 3 to 24 months.
“The essence of this intervention is to give these beneficiaries a genuine opportunity to start afresh, become self-reliant, and contribute positively to society,.
“When people are given a second chance, we must also give them the tools to make that second chance count. Economic empowerment is critical to successful reintegration,” Akinleye said.
He emphasized that state rehabilitation must extend beyond prison gates, noting that providing legitimate, self-sustaining livelihoods prevents recidivism and supports long-term public safety.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, one beneficiary thanked the state government and the Chief of Staff for the intervention, describing the business seed capital as a crucial lifeline to restart their lives.
