Nigerian prison in-mates address themselves to to productive ventures
Prison in-mates in Nigeria have turned a new leaf as they now addressed themselves to productive ventures in their prison environment.
This was demonstrated by female in-mates in Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos South-West Nigeria who staged an exhibition tagged “In-mates Re-entry Programme”.
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- Beads produced by female prisoners in Kirikiri, Lagos
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- snacks made by female prisoners in Kirikiri, Lagos
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- vegetables from female prisoners in Kirikiri, Lagos
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- Outfits made from mango leaves
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- Beads produced by female prisoners in Kirikiri, Lagos
Addressing the in-mates, the Deputy Controller of Prisons at Kirikiri Prisons, in Lagos, Mrs. Dora Ofoburuniweta advised the female in-mates to concentrate on activities that would make them better citizens on release.
Mrs. Ofoburuniweta called on public spirited Nigerians to support the in-mates by patronizing their products.
She urged them not to see their period in prison as a waste of time, stressing that God had a purpose for bringing them there and that they will go back to the society better people.
She said that the exhibition affords everyone the opportunity to correct the erroneous impression that Nigerian Prisons were a place where criminals go and become hardened criminals on release. ” The public perception is that when people come to prisons they become hardened criminals but the exhibition today goes a long way to correcting such erroneous impression and right now the modern penal system has shifted from punishment to correction embedded in reformation, re-rehabilitation and re- integration into the society”.
She noted that what they have learnt in the prison environment would enable them to be gainfully employed on release.
She reminded them that education has no age limit and as such they can always learn irrespective of their ages.
Also addressing the in-mates, a legal practitioner, Barrister who has immensely supported the course of the in-mates especially in fighting for the release of those unjustly detained ones and has been described by some as the prisoners angel, Barrister Giwa Amu advised Nigerians, especially the well to do ones to share a little of resources available to them to help the needy.
Barrister Giwa Amu said his organization had released about three thousand in-mates free of charge.
As part of efforts to encouraging the in-mates, Barrister Giwa Amu bought a little vegetable harvested from the prison farm by the in-mates at the sum of a hundred thousand naira.
Some of the in-mates who spoke to Shout Africa’s correspondent expressed satisfaction with the training programmes organized for them by the management of the Nigerian Prisons.
In separate interviews, they said skills acquired from the prison will make them better people in the society on release.
They added that they will earn a living from such skills when they regain their freedom.
Highlights of the event include exhibition of products produced by the female in -mates such as African wears, snacks, beads, hats, display of cultural dances, acrobatic displays and fashion parade. – By Shout-Africa Correspondent Chinyere Ogbonna
