By Ibironke Ariyo
The Hope Behind Bars Africa, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has inaugurated an “Inside-out centre” at the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) to help low-risk inmates acquire skills.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Oluwafunke Adeoye said on Friday that the initiave focused on bridging the rehabilitation, reformation, and reintegration gap in correctional facilities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hope Behind Bars Africa, is with the mission of closing the justice and inequality gap.
Adeoye said that the ambitious project seeks to create in-prison opportunities for female and low-risk male inmates.
This, she said would be to acquire in-demand vocational and tech skills, earn income behind bars and advanced their educational and entrepreneurial prospects.
“The organisation seeks to realise this project through public-private partnerships and continued collaboration with the Correctional Service, “she said.
Adeoye, who is also the group’s founder, reiterated organisation the benefits of the Inside- out centre for inmates.
She said that the initiative would aid gainful employment for people behind bars adding that it would also go a long way in curbing recidivism and reducing insecurity in the country.
Speaking, the Controller, NCoS, FCT Command, Mr Francis John, commended Hope Behind Bars Africa for the initiative.
According to him, It is therefore my intention, having only recently taken over office as the Controller of Corrections in FCT, to work closely with Hope Behind Bars Africa.
“This is to see to it that we achieve our mandate of safe custody, and ensuring offenders’ welfare towards their seamless resettlement back to the society.
“I give my words that we will work cordially to bring hope to those behind bars indeed, “he said.
The group made presentation of media equipment to the Controller on behalf of the centre to assist in documenting and amplifying the centre’s programme.
Also, ex-inmates were presented with Fish-Fingerlings, Fish Feed, and tanks to set up their fish farming businesses as the first cohort of the Inside Out Centre. .(NAN)
