68 Inmates Acquire Vocational Skills in Ogun Prison

The NPS Ogun State Command has graduated 68 inmates of Ibara Prison after several months of intensive training in dress making, hair dressing, barbing, welding, bead making, carpentry, soap making and shoe making.

The graduation ceremony was attended by dignitaries including family members and friends of the inmates. The Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice O O Olopade who was represented by Mrs Sofowora  commended the prison management under the present Controller General, Ja’afaru Ahmed for bringing back lost hope to the inmates and providing them with a life changing opportunity for descent living. She noted that with this orientation, cases of repeat offences by ex-convicts will drastically reduce and crime in the society brought to the barest minimum.

She appealed to well meaning Nigerians to support the worthy course through accepting ex-convicts and allowing them to practice these trades without stigmatising them.

Earlier in his welcome address, the CP of the state, Mr Abolade Victor represented by the officer in charge of the prison,  DCP Sunday Kolawole stated that the prison has an inmate population of  1016 out of which 562 are awaiting trial. This, he further stated means that only 454 inmates are ordinarily qualified for reformation and rehabilitation programmes being only the certified felons. He therefore appealed for speedy trial of cases pending before courts in order to determine status of inmates and place them in appropriate treatment programmes.

He also appreciated the selfless effort of the Prisons Rehabilitation and Law Abiding Organization International (PRALARG) a non government organization for partnering with the NPS to train the inmates.

The graduands were later presented with certificates by the National Agency for Mass Education  amidst cheers.

Old Abeokuta, Ibara Prison was established in 1901with an initial capacity for 510 inmates but presently houses 1016 inmates.

VICTOR OYELEKE

CPRO, OGUN