The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, has called on stakeholders to prioritise empowerment, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates over condemnation and punitive approaches.
Nwakuche made the appeal at the 2025 Correctional Inmates Exhibition and Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Lagos. The event, themed “Reformed for Impact,” saw 100 inmates from NCoS Zone A (Lagos and Ogun States) awarded Trade Test Certificates after completing intensive training in various vocational skills.
“We must all join hands to build bridges rather than walls,” Nwakuche said, stressing that the initiative demonstrates that rehabilitation is not only possible but already a reality within correctional facilities.
According to him, the training — which covered carpentry, shoemaking, tailoring, electrical installation, barbing, hairdressing, and catering, among others — is equipping inmates with practical, marketable skills that will enable them to live meaningful, productive lives upon release.
“These programmes are not simply about training hands; they are about shaping minds, restoring confidence, and creating opportunities for a new beginning,” he added.
The correctional chief noted that the programme aligns with the NCoS Act 2019, which emphasizes a shift from punitive measures to a more humane, correctional philosophy. He urged stakeholders to keep investing in initiatives that “empower rather than condemn, heal rather than harm, and build bridges rather than walls.”
Congratulating the graduating inmates, Nwakuche charged them to embrace discipline, resilience, and transformation: “Let these skills define your future, not your past. Live out the meaning of today’s theme, ‘Reformed for Impact,’ by using what you have learned to positively touch lives and build a better future.”
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support for correctional reforms, noting that his vision for a modern correctional system continues to create the enabling environment for such programmes to thrive.
Assistant Controller General of Corrections, Zone A, Ope Fatinikun, described skills acquisition as critical to inmate reintegration, saying correctional centres should not be seen as “castaway camps” but as hubs of reform and second chances.
“Rehabilitation is a journey, not a destination. The creativity and achievements of inmates are proof of the human spirit’s capacity for growth and transformation,” he said.
Controller of Corrections, Lagos Command, Daramola George, added that the exhibition offered the public a glimpse into the hidden talent, creativity, and resilience of inmates.
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“The works on display are not only products of skill but also symbols of rebirth and hope. With the right tools and support, inmates can emerge as valuable contributors to society,” George said.
On display at the exhibition were locally produced items such as clothing, shoes, sandals, household goods, perfumes, disinfectants, and soaps — showcasing the diverse skills acquired by inmates during their training.
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