NCoS Inmates Receive Skill Acquisition and Educational Training Ahead of Reintegration to Society

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) yesterday said it has empowered inmates with expanded skill acquisition and educational training programmes.

The NCos said this is aimed at rehabilitation and reduction of recidivism in Abuja.

The FCT Controller of Corrections, Mr. Christopher Jen, explained that the initiatives were designed to facilitate the seamless reintegration of inmates into society by equipping them with relevant vocational skills and formal education.

In a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Samson Duza, the Controller stated that since assuming office, the command had prioritised the training of inmates.

He said this was through strategic partnerships with various organisations, adding that donations of training materials by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) had greatly strengthened the programmes across custodial centres in the FCT.

“I am immensely proud of the transformative progress we’ve made in empowering inmates through skills acquisition and education.

“These partnerships with NGOs have not only equipped over 800 inmates with practical skills, but is paving way for true rehabilitation and reduced recidivism,” he said.

Jen said the command is running diverse skills acquisition programmes, cutting across vocational, creative and agricultural sectors.

The Controller listed some areas the inmates have acquired skills to include barbing, with 32 inmates in training; cap-making, with 35 inmates; embroidery, with five inmates; shoemaking, with 42 inmates; tailoring, with 48 inmates; carpentry, with eight inmates, among others.

He said the inmates were undergoing training in the aforementioned fields, among others.

Jen added that agricultural-based skills featured prominently, with 200 inmates trained in fisheries, 78 in poultry farming, and 80 in paint production.

He said the inmates were actively pursuing recognised academic qualifications across custodial centres.

“At the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kuje, 97 inmates have been registered for the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations, and 65 are sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO).

“At the MSCC, Suleja, 30 inmates were enrolled for NABTEB, while another 30 were registered for NECO examinations,” he added.

Jen said a total of 222 inmates have been enrolled in secondary education programmes, while 201 others were pursuing degree programmes with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

“With 222 inmates enrolled in secondary education and 201 pursuing degrees at NOUN, we’re proving that second chances start with education.

“Our gratitude goes to our NGO partners whose donations have made this vision a reality,” Jen said.

The Controller reaffirmed the NCoS commitment to transformative justice, stressing that the programmes were geared toward equipping inmates with marketable skills and knowledge necessary for productive and law-abiding lives after release.

He thanked the service’s partner organisations and NGOs for their sustained support in advancing inmates’ rehabilitation and empowerment initiatives.