Commercial Bank Donates Training Hall to Borstal Institute

Commercial Bank Donates Training Hall to Borstal Institute

The spotlight shone brightly on Borstal Institution Abeokuta when the team of a commercial bank commissioned and handed over a well equipped standard vocational workshop to the Principal of the Borstal Training institution – Controller of Corrections V M Fatodu.

The bank’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative in conjunction with Barrister Ahmed Adetola Kazeem of Prisoners Right Advocacy Initiatives (PRAI) identifies the gap and needed to construct a well equipped standard and functional vocational workshop within the institution for the benefit of the students and the institution; this is geared towards ensuring that students have self sufficient lives after their brief stay within the facility.

The workshop which is a single block that comprises the tailoring, barbing and carpentry sections as well as an IT section and two rest rooms for the use of both staff and students of the institution.

The IT section was purposely included in the vocational workshop in order to equip the students with necessary Information Technology skills. This will be of immense benefits to students during their preparation for the UTME computer based test and also to introduce students to other computer based application.

In furtherance of their interest in the institution, the bank adopts and pledges to be more visible within the institution; the organization intends to partner the institution in addressing the challenges noticed in other sphere of the institution.

At the end of the commissioning, five students were awarded with scholarships- the Attorney General of Ogun state gave a student scholarship, the bank’s representative pledges scholarship to the best three students while another scholarship was offered by a guest at the event to one of the students.

In his remarks, Barrister Ahmed Adetola Kazeem of PRAI said that maintenance culture is key, as the sustainability of the project can attracts further interest to the institution by the bank and other positive minded organizations or personalities.

The Attorney General of the Ogun state, Mr. Gbolahan Adeniran, in his remarks appreciated the kind gesture and goodwill of the bank’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives for looking into the juvenile arm of the Nigerian correctional service.

He also updated the guests on the step the state government is taking on juvenile justice, the review of the Child Rights Act and other issues that affects the child, the ICT and other important plan the state is embarking on to address child violence, creating positive change for young minds and to attract IT investor and make the state an ICT hub where other states can tap and leverage from the abundance of resources.

The Controller of Corrections of Ogun State Command appreciate everyone on behalf of the Controller General of Corrections Ja’afaru Ahmed fcimc. He said that if every organization can support and invest in the lives of offender –young or old, ex-offender and the correctional service then there is every possibility that effect of crime in our society can be reduced to its barest minimum.

The host of the day, Controller of Corrections V M Fatodu was grateful to all invited guests that grace the occasion. She holds that the students are filled with lots of energy and all they needed is a medium to channel their energy towards positive means.

One of the ways for a positive drive is the kind of support we are witnessing with the commissioning of a well equipped standard vocational workshop by Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC.

She called for support from all well meaning Nigerians to curb the ills that bedeviled our society.

She stressed that if the institution is supported well enough to be able to equip every student that pass through the institution with a means of livelihood and means of sustenance either in academics, vocational trades, sports or recreation and help horn their skills and talents, then, the society is half way to sanity as these boys can forge ahead on their own after release.

The event witnessed the presence of the Attorney General of Ogun-State – Mr Gbolahan ADENIRAN, the representative of the Chief Judge of Ogun-State – Mr. Olusegun Lanre-Iyanda, Controller of Corrections Ogun State Command Mojeed O. Olaniran, the officer in-charge New Abeokuta custodial centre DCC BM Adenaya, the officer in-charge Old Abeokuta custodial centre DCC A Shuaib, Barrister Ahmed Adetola Kazeem the founder of a Non-Governmental Organisation named Prisoners Right Advocacy Initiative (PRAI). Also present is the team of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, led by Dr. Kunle Adedeji-the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer represented by Mr. Tosin Odutayo – Head CIB Finance, Mrs. Omolola Fashesin – Head Sustainability, Mr. Seyi Taiwo –Treasurer, Mr. Kolawole Adebayo – Head Finance MIS, Mr. Seun Eluyefa – Head PB Finance, Miss Ronke Owoeye, Finance Analyst and Mr. Olumide Adelaja, Branch manager Stanbic IBTC Bank, Abeokuta and other important guest that grace the occasion.

Yusuf Raji
PRO Bostal ABEOKUTA