No fewer than 61 inmates of the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre in Lagos State have successfully completed the nine-month Onesimus Project skills acquisition scheme. The initiative was organised by the Prison Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in partnership with Covenant University and the European Union.
The 14th graduation ceremony of the programme was held on Wednesday at the chapel within the custodial facility.
The Executive Director of PFN, Jacob Tsado, explained that what started as a rehabilitation effort has now developed into a “movement that restores dignity, builds capacity, and equips inmates and ex-inmates with the confidence to begin anew.”
Tsado further disclosed that plans have been concluded to open a new training centre in Abuja, which will serve as a hub for rehabilitation and other services. He said, “This centre will serve as a hub for rehabilitation and follow-up services, skills acquisition, volunteer training, restorative justice programming, and youth engagement.
“We see this as a crucial next step in consolidating the gains of the Onesimus Project and preventing offending and reoffending.”
He commended partners of the programme while urging the graduates to maintain the discipline and values they had displayed during the training even after regaining their freedom.
In his goodwill message, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State and Chairman of the PFN Board of Trustees, Olayide Adelami, described such initiatives as vital in offering hope to inmates and reducing the chances of them returning to crime after release. He was represented at the event by the Vice-Chairman of the PFN Board of Trustees, Prof. Chioma Agomo.
Agomo stressed the importance of collective action, saying, “The success of initiatives such as this depends on strong collaboration among government, civil society, the private sector, and development partners.
“Together, we can transform our custodial centres into true correctional facilities that restore lives, reduce crime, and contribute to national development.
“To our graduating students, I extend my heartfelt congratulations. Your courage to embrace change and your resilience in pursuing a new path stand as a beacon of hope for others.”
Also speaking, Senior State Counsel at the Department of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Suliat Ojikutu, noted that the ministry’s role went beyond securing justice to ensuring inmates emerged as better people. She urged the graduates to see the programme as an opportunity to turn away from crime.
In a lecture, Dr. Dayo Odukoya of the Department of Psychology at Covenant University, advised the inmates to cultivate emotional intelligence and self-control.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of certificates, starter tools, and cash awards to outstanding participants, as well as an exhibition of products made by the inmates.
The Lagos Command Comptroller of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Daramola George, applauded the PFN and its partners, noting that the project aligned with the agency’s mission. He encouraged the graduates to take the opportunity as proof of their “resilience, hard work and commitment,” which would prepare them for a better life outside the facility.
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