Presentation of gift materials by Rev. Fr. Ifeanyichukwu Ogodo to the Inmates of Abakaliki Medium Security Custodial Centre at the event.

No fewer than 45 inmates of the Abakaliki Medium Security Custodial Centre, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) , Abakaliki command have been trained in various skills acquisition.

35 inmates received training in paint making while 10 inmates are currently undergoing training in barbing.

Mr Benedict Oyoko, State Controller, Nigerian Correctional Service, Ebonyi Command disclosed this on Friday in Abakaliki in a keynote address presented at the end of a two-day seminar, award of honour and a week of skill acquisition and empowerment for inmates of the centre.

Mrs Margaret Irem, a deputy controller of Corrections in charge of Nursing Services in the NCos, Ebonyi read the address on behalf of the controller.

The event was organised by the Correctional Special School (CSS) in conjunction with Inmates Educational Foundation (IEF), a Lagos-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Oyoko noted that the Correctional Service was focusing more on reformation and rehabilitation of inmates rather than punishment, to make inmates better and worthier citizens.

The Correctional boss said that the one week skills acquisition training was to better equip and enhance the capacity of the inmates in their chosen vocations as well as enable them to channel their energies into profitable ventures.

Oyoko said that the skill development was part of the reformation and rehabilitation programme NCoS geared reintegrating the inmates back to society at the end of their jail term.

Oyoko, said that the Abakaliki Medium Custodial Centre was built in 1946 with a capacity of 387 inmates but, regretted that the facility was currently locking over 1, 221 inmates showing a congestion of 937 inmates.

“This increase is not a healthy development to the centre as some of the facilities have been overstretched resulting in health challenges and infrastructural decays,” Oyoko said.

He noted that the centre has a well established vocational training centre where inmates were been trained in tailoring, carpentry, electrical, metal works among others.

He commended organisations, groups and public spirited individuals for the assistance they were rendering to the centre.

He noted that as part of efforts to ensure that inmates received qualitative higher education while serving their terms, that the centre had concluded plans to establish National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study centre in the custodial centre.

Mr Alabidum Mudathir, the Executive Director, Inmates Educational Foundation, an award recipient who made donation of educational materials and clippers for those being trained in barbing said that the organisation was committed to improving the welfare of inmates.

“We hope that items will be used judiciously and we hope these will be used to prepare them for a better future,” he said.

Also, another organisation, Save Our Social Moral and Educational Foundation represented by Rev. Fr. Ifeanyichukwu Ogodo, presented assorted items including biro, sanitary pads among others to the centre.

Our correspondent reports that Mrs Mary-Maudlin Nwifuru, wife of Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi was among other distinguished personalities who received awards of honour at the occasion.

Oyoko who received the gift items on behalf the inmates thanked the donors for extending their magnanimity to the Inmates. ENDS//