NCoS seeks more partnerships to rehabilitate inmates as 28 Ogun prisoners graduate from IT training

Mujeeb Akindoyin

The Nigerian Prison Service, Ogun State Command, has called for stronger partnerships with institutions, private organizations and other stakeholders to expand educational and vocational opportunities for inmates and prepare them for productive lives after incarceration.

The Controller of Prisons in the state, Kamarudeen Abioye, made the call on Friday while speaking at the presentation of diplomas to 28 inmates of the Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, who completed a training program in basic computer skills.

Abioye said skill acquisition and education remain key components of the Service’s mandate to reform and rehabilitate prisoners, urging more organizations to support initiatives that provide them with the skills needed to reintegrate into society.

The Controller commended the training facilitators and sponsors for investing in inmates and providing them with the opportunity to gain knowledge that could become useful after their release.

He said: “This initiative was one of the methods to transform prisoners into better citizens, as they were sent here to be reformed.”

Abioye urged more institutions and organizations to partner with the NCoS to provide educational, vocational and other empowerment programs that can give inmates a renewed sense of purpose.

He said such interventions would complement the Correctional Service’s efforts in ensuring that prisoners do not simply serve their sentences but also acquire skills that could support their reintegration into wider society.

The Director of Welfare of the NCoS, Ogun State Command, ASC Abdulhakeem Awesu, explained that the educational programs provided to inmates are broadly divided into three areas: academic, vocational and religious education.

Awesu said the programs were designed to address different aspects of inmates’ development while incarcerated.

“We have a mandate for tripartite education programs. In this area, we have the three axes. We have the academic one, we have the vocational one and we have the religious education program,” he said.

The center also received a projector and other gadgets to enhance hands-on learning and make subsequent computer training sessions more effective.

CELCIR donated a laptop and projector for online academic training of inmates

The Officer in Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Deputy Controller of Prisons, DCC Kolawole Ojo, has said rehabilitation remains one of the key responsibilities of the Prison Service.

Ojo said the Service is committed to ensuring that inmates are reformed, rehabilitated and corrected before returning to society.

However, he appealed to the public to stop stigmatizing ex-prisoners, saying social rejection could undermine the prison service’s rehabilitation efforts.

According to him, prisoners should be given the opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society after serving their sentences.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that these people are reformed, rehabilitated and corrected. We always campaign against the stigmatization of inmates in the custody center because no one is above mistakes,” Kolawole said.

He urged members of the public and potential employers to judge ex-offenders by their current conduct and abilities rather than permanently defining them by their past mistakes.

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