Adeleke’s CoS, Akinleye Rewards Pardoned Inmates, Gives POS, Business Capital

…Beneficiaries Had Campaigned For Adeleke’s Re-election

The Osun State Chief of Staff, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, has empowered some beneficiaries of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s pardon with POS machines and cash capital as part of efforts to promote rehabilitation, self-reliance and inclusive governance.

The beneficiaries, who were released following the governor’s pardon last year, had subsequently participated in the campaign and mobilisation activities for Adeleke’s re-election during the 2026 governorship election.

They reportedly took the campaign to various streets, markets and communities across the state, mobilising support and canvassing votes for the governor.

Their contributions were recognised by Akinleye, who provided the beneficiaries with POS machines and financial capital to enable them to commence small-scale businesses.

A monitoring team was also established to track the progress of the beneficiaries over the next three to 24 months and provide necessary follow-up.

Akinleye said the intervention was not merely a reward for their political support but a deliberate effort to ensure that the beneficiaries had the means to build sustainable livelihoods.

He said, “This is about empowerment, rehabilitation and giving people the opportunity to become useful to themselves and society. A pardon should open the door to a new beginning, and we must provide the support required to make that new beginning sustainable.”

The Chief of Staff said the beneficiaries should be encouraged to remain productive rather than return to circumstances that could jeopardise their reintegration into society.

He added that the initiative reflected the administration’s people-oriented approach to governance, stressing that citizens who had received a second chance deserved an opportunity to rebuild their lives.

The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Akinleye for the intervention, saying the support would enable them to establish legitimate businesses and improve their economic wellbeing.

One of them said, “We appreciate the Chief of Staff for remembering us and giving us something with which we can start afresh. This is not just financial support; it is a chance to regain our dignity and become useful to our communities.”

The empowerment further demonstrates the administration’s focus on human capital development, rehabilitation and economic inclusion.

Rather than leaving the beneficiaries to fend for themselves after their release, the initiative seeks to provide practical tools through which they can earn a livelihood and contribute meaningfully to society.

The programme, therefore, represents a transition from pardon to rehabilitation, and from rehabilitation to economic empowerment, giving the beneficiaries an opportunity to build more productive futures.