Adeleke’s Chief of Staff Gives Pardoned Inmates POS Machines and Cash to Start Businesses

Some former inmates pardoned by the Osun State government have received Point-of-Sale machines and cash capital to help them start small businesses and rebuild their lives.

The assistance came from Kazeem Akinleye, Chief of Staff to Governor Ademola Adeleke. The beneficiaries were among inmates pardoned last year as part of efforts to support rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

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The essence of this intervention is to give these beneficiaries a genuine opportunity to start afresh, become self-reliant and contribute positively to society.

They had also taken part in mobilisation and campaign activities during the 2026 governorship election. According to the report, they carried the administration’s message to streets, markets and communities across Osun and canvassed support for Adeleke’s successful re-election bid.

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When people are given a second chance, we must also give them the opportunity and the tools to make that second chance count. Economic empowerment is critical to successful reintegration.

Akinleye said the initiative was intended to provide more than temporary relief. “The essence of this intervention is to give these beneficiaries a genuine opportunity to start afresh, become self-reliant and contribute positively to society,” he said. He added that rehabilitation should continue after release by giving former inmates the means to become productive members of society.

“When people are given a second chance, we must also give them the opportunity and the tools to make that second chance count. Economic empowerment is critical to successful reintegration,” Akinleye said. A monitoring team will follow the beneficiaries’ progress over the next three to 24 months. One beneficiary said the support offered a chance to begin a new chapter and hope for a better future.

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We are grateful for this opportunity. The support will help us start something meaningful and give us hope for a better future.