By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

OSOGBO — The Chief of Staff to the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Mr Kazeem Akinleye, has empowered 20 pardoned inmates as part of efforts to support their reintegration into society and provide them with sustainable means of livelihood.

The beneficiaries were among inmates granted pardon by the state government and had participated voluntarily in the Accord Party’s awareness campaign across communities in the state ahead of the 2026 governorship election, according to a statement issued by the Chief of Staff’s media office.

The statement said Akinleye provided the beneficiaries with Point-of-Sale, POS, machines and cash grants to enable them to establish small businesses.

It added that a monitoring team would track the beneficiaries’ progress over 24 months.

According to the statement, the empowerment was designed to give the beneficiaries a fresh start, promote economic independence and reduce the risk of circumstances that could undermine their reintegration into society.

“The empowerment is aimed at giving the beneficiaries a fresh start, helping them become economically independent and discouraging a return to circumstances that could jeopardise their reintegration into society rather than merely offering temporary assistance.

“The gesture provides them with practical tools to earn a legitimate livelihood and contribute positively to their communities,” it said.

The statement said the intervention underscored the importance of providing people who had received a second chance with opportunities to rebuild their lives.

It added that the transition from incarceration to productive economic activity demonstrated the need to complement rehabilitation with empowerment and opportunities for self-reliance.

The Chief of Staff’s office also said the beneficiaries’ participation in the campaign for Adeleke’s re-election was recognised as part of the reason for the intervention.

It described the empowerment as both a recognition of their contributions and an indication of the administration’s commitment to rehabilitation, human capital development, empowerment and inclusive governance.

The beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the intervention, describing it as an opportunity to begin a new chapter of their lives with dignity and hope, according to the statement.