The Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Capital Territory Command, an agency under Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior responsible for custodial management and rehabilitation of inmates, has expanded its inmate empowerment programmes through a broad range of vocational training and formal education initiatives across its facilities.
Okay News reports that the renewed focus on skills acquisition and academic advancement is designed to strengthen rehabilitation outcomes, support successful reintegration into society after release, and significantly reduce recidivism among former inmates.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Capital Territory Command, Adamu Duza, said the programmes have gained momentum under the leadership of the Controller of Corrections for the Federal Capital Territory, Christopher Jen, who assumed office with a mandate to prioritise inmate transformation.
According to the statement, Jen has actively pursued partnerships with several Non-Governmental Organisations to expand access to vocational tools, training materials, and professional instruction within custodial centres across Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city and seat of the Federal Government.
The command noted that sustained donations from civil society groups have played a critical role in enabling inmates to acquire practical and marketable skills that can support lawful livelihoods upon release.
“I am immensely proud of the transformative progress we’ve made in empowering inmates through skill acquisition and education. These partnerships with NGOs have not only equipped over 800 inmates with practical skills but are paving the way for true rehabilitation and reduced recidivism,” Jen said.
The statement detailed the scope of vocational training currently underway, revealing that 32 inmates are enrolled in barbing, 35 in cap making, five in embroidery, 42 in shoe making, 48 in tailoring, and eight in carpentry. Other areas include tie and dye involving 27 inmates, cosmetology with 80 participants, building construction with 60 inmates, electrical work with 11 inmates, and computer repair with 68 inmates.
Additional empowerment programmes include laundry services with eight inmates, bag making with 15 inmates, artwork with six inmates, and bead making with 12 inmates. Agricultural skills training also features prominently, with 200 inmates trained in fisheries, 78 in poultry farming, and 80 in paint production.
Beyond vocational development, the command highlighted significant progress in formal education. At the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, located in Abuja, 97 inmates are registered for the National Business and Technical Examinations Board examinations, while 65 are sitting for the National Examinations Council examinations. At the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, in Niger State, 30 inmates are enrolled for NABTEB and another 30 for NECO.
“With 222 inmates enrolled in secondary education and 201 pursuing degree programmes at the National Open University of Nigeria, we are proving that second chances start with education. Our gratitude goes to our NGO partners whose donations have made this vision a reality,” the statement added.
The progress aligns with broader federal oversight efforts. In October 2025, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, conducted an unscheduled inspection visit to the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre alongside the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
During the visit, the minister and the legal body’s president toured vocational workshops, academic classrooms, and Information and Communication Technology training units, assessing ongoing rehabilitation programmes and the general condition of the facility.
The inspection underscored the Federal Government’s renewed emphasis on correctional reform, inmate welfare, and rehabilitation as central pillars of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
