Nollywood actress and singer Angela Okorie has narrated her experience at the Suleja Correctional Centre, describing her detention as a turning point that altered her outlook on life, empathy, and human dignity.
The actress was held at the facility in connection with an alleged cybercrime case arising from a public dispute with fellow Nollywood star Mercy Johnson.
Speaking via a post on her Instagram page, Okorie said her stay in custody exposed her to the difficult realities of life behind bars, particularly the conditions faced by female inmates and children living within the correctional system.
She explained that the experience left a deep emotional impact on her and inspired her to return to the centre after her release with medical supplies and welfare materials.
According to her, the visit revealed poor living conditions and a critical shortage of essential drugs, especially for children born inside the custodial facility.
In her account, Okorie said she was particularly moved by the plight of children who entered the world behind bars, noting that some inmates were already pregnant at the time of their arrest. She stressed that such children deserved the same care, love, and access to healthcare as those outside the correctional environment.
“I want to share a deeply personal experience that has profoundly changed my perspective on life. During my brief stay at the Suleja Correctional Centre, I learned powerful lessons about strength, resilience, hope and humanity,” she wrote.
The actress explained that before leaving the facility, she became aware of urgent needs related to child welfare and healthcare, which informed her decision to return with support items. She added that her intervention was funded through her personal resources and foundation, driven by what she described as genuine compassion rather than public recognition.
“For me, giving is not merely an act; it is a way of life,” Okorie stated, adding that her commitment to helping others had guided her through difficult moments in her own life.
She described her time at the correctional centre as purposeful, saying it allowed her to understand, empathise, and serve those in vulnerable situations.
Okorie also expressed gratitude to God for what she called the opportunity to make a difference, however modest, and said the experience had left a lasting impression on her outlook on freedom, dignity, and service to humanity.
The actress, who was earlier granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja, has since pledged continued support for inmates’ children and called on members of the public to adopt giving as a lifestyle.
“To everyone reading this, I encourage you to embrace giving as a way of life. It changes lives, both those who receive and those who give,” she said.
