FG Launches Vocational Training for Prisoners

The Federal Government has initiated vocational training across Nigeria’s 241 correctional facilities, aiming to equip inmates with skills for their reintegration into society post-incarceration. Senior Special Adviser to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Abiola Arogundade, revealed this development during a press conference in Abuja. President Bola Tinubu’s concern for inmates’ societal reintegration underscores the program’s significance.

Each participating inmate will receive a grant of N500,000 upon completion of the skills acquisition program. Arogundade emphasized that the initiative, starting with a pilot scheme at Kuje Centre, prioritizes 500 inmates from each facility. The scheme, launched after assessing inmates’ needs at Kuje, aims to certify individuals in various skills, partnering with global bodies to ensure international recognition of acquired skills.

With vocational skills ranging from fashion design to computer training, soap making to poultry farming, the program aligns with successful models observed in Norwegian prisons. The initiative targets inmates with limited sentence duration, emphasizing voluntary participation and inclusive decision-making. By empowering inmates with practical skills and financial support, the government aims to reduce recidivism rates and facilitate successful societal reintegration post-release.