The Prison Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has begun the training of 566 Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) personnel towards improving prison management across the country.
Mr Benson Iwuagwu, Executive Director, PFN, made this known on Monday, in Minna, Niger state at a two-day workshop on inmate’s behavioural modification programme.
“The Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, particularly in Section 10 (g) provides us a measured opportunity to make an input in the noble, but arduous responsibilities of the Nigerian Correctional Service to reform, rehabilitate and reintegrate custodial inmates.
Hence, this collaborative effort by PFN, NCS, and Prison Fellowship International (PFI) to train 566 correctional service officers on our key behaviour modification and remedial programmes.”
Iwuagwu explained that the programme, currently ongoing in eight zones, would train 103 officials from zone “D” which comprises Abuja, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
He said the theme: “Remedial Programme Symbiotic Reinforcement” underscored the fact that the inmates were the central focus of the programmes of both the NCS and the PFN.
The executive director said the training aimed at acquainting correctional officers with empowerment, remedial and behaviour modification programmes of the PFN, including spiritual, social and psychological programmes.
He said the exercise would expose the trainees to a better understanding of the mutual symbiotic relationship with the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration institutional goals of the NCS.
Iwuagwu said in the absence of volunteers, the trained officers would keep an oversight of inmates’ facilitators. Similarly, Mr Andy Corley, the PFI President, said that crime affected all spheres of life and the society at large.
“This is why the PFI and PFN have decided to put up this programme to support the inmates and government to bring about a better society. It is all about restoring lives of inmates and their families for a better society.”
Inaugurating the workshop, Mr Haliru Nababa, Controller General (CG) NCoS, said the PFN had been a key partner in raising the standard of prison management in the country.
“Recently, the fellowship renewed her collaboration as partners in the promotion and execution of the life recovery pre-release empowerment programme known as “Onesimus” project.
As a crime curtailment and human capital development tools through mentoring, psychoanalytical guidance and counseling, entrepreneurial and vocational training of prison inmates, with six months or less to the end of their sentence.
This will aid their rehabilitation and re-entry into productive socio-economic life, reduce recidivism and improve security of lives and property.”
The CG, who was represented by Mr Daniel Osaro, Assistant Controller General (ACG) NCoS, Abuja, thanked the PFN in her determination to ensure full implementation of the NCoS Act 2019, through the provision of technical support and capacity building.
