The Kirikiri Correctional Facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services, held a beauty contest to commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day, IWD.
Chidinma Ojukwu, a student of the University of Lagos (before her detention) and lead suspect in the murder of the Super TV boss, Michael Ataga, won the Kirikiri Facility event, tagged Miss Cell 2022.
The 2022 IWD event is themed to re-imagine a world without gender bias – free of stereotypes and discrimination.
Divergent reactions are trailing her emergence. Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri called prison a place of punishment and rehabilitation.
“Once it becomes a place of fun, then the whole purpose is defeated. How would the family of Usifo Ataga feel to see Chidinma prancing about as a beauty queen in prison?”, he wondered.
Sam Amadi, former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, does not see anything wrong in organizing beauty competition for prison inmates. And, Amadi reminded that one of them must win.
He said the important thing was that the prison service authorized the event, in line with penal guidelines, and did not grant any inmate a preferential treatment.
“Life in prison as convicted person or awaiting trial person should, as much as possible with custodial conditions, go with dignity and pleasure.
“A community-based activity, like the IWD event, that improves knowledge and creativity and enhances joy is in line with custodial condition and penal status”, Amadi added.
