The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has distributed start-up packs to 32 ex-offenders who were trained on various trades while serving their jail terms.
Distributing the tools on Wednesday in Abuja, the NCoS Controller General, Haliru Nababa, expressed optimism that the skills acquired by the ex-offenders would usher them into a more qualitative phase of life.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trade tools distributed were for tailoring, barbing, carpentry, welding, hairdressing, masonry and laundry among others.
Nababa, who was represented by Deputy Controller General Sylvester Nwakuche, said that the event was in line with the service’ core mandate of reformation, reintegration and rehabilitation of offenders through various training regimes.
According to him, sections 10 and 14 of the NCoS Act clearly mandates the Correctional Service to provide opportunities for vocational skills and training for inmates.
“This is necessary in order to facilitate their smooth reintegration into the society; the aftercare scheme is an extension of the humane care and attention given to inmates while in incarceration.
“It is fundamental to ensuring offenders’ re-entry into the society after serving their respective jail terms is easy and seamless; the essence of this scheme is to re-tool ex-inmates, thereby encouraging them to be productive and self-sustaining,’’ he said.
Nababa said that the implementation of the scheme remained the best way to keep the ex-inmates away from crime while ensuring that communities are safe and better for all to live.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to put their new skills to good use and work hard to improve on what they have learnt.
”With dedication, focus and hard-work, you can grow beyond self- sufficiency to the point of becoming employers of labour.
”I also wish to inform the public that beyond the After-Care Scheme, the service is doing quite a lot in setting social misfits on the path of propriety.
“This we do through psycho-social services, guidance and counselling, chaplaincy services, agricultural activities, adult literacy classes; also, our long-standing partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as well as other tertiary institutions.’’
The NCoS boss urged well-meaning Nigerians to wholly accept the reformed ex-inmates and support their progress by patronising their products and services.
He also appealed to public-spirited individuals and corporate entities to support the NCoS to enhance the training programme and provision of starter pact and other after-care facilities.
“The onus lies on all of us to break the cycle of criminality by helping ex-inmates to jettison their old ways and fully embrace better life,’’ Nababa added.
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, one of the ex-offenders, who simply introduced himself as Amao, assured that they would make best use of the tools given to them.
“We promise to use these tools judiciously and be employers of labour so that we won’t have any reason to come back to the correctional centers again,’’ he said.
