The Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) has
called on federal and state government agencies to help promote
entrepreneurial activities of inmates through its Prisons Industry
Programme.
called on federal and state government agencies to help promote
entrepreneurial activities of inmates through its Prisons Industry
Programme.
The Controller of Prisons in Enugu, Mr
Ndubuisi Ogbodo, made the call at the inauguration of the Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprises Clinic (MSME) by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at
the Okpara Square, Enugu.
Ndubuisi Ogbodo, made the call at the inauguration of the Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprises Clinic (MSME) by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at
the Okpara Square, Enugu.
Ogbodo said the Nigeria Prisons Industry programme was part of the reformation objective of the Nigeria prisons.
He said that the Nigeria Prisons was
saddled with the responsibility of reforming, rehabilitating and
reintegrating prisoners back into the society.
saddled with the responsibility of reforming, rehabilitating and
reintegrating prisoners back into the society.
“So, once a prisoner is admitted, we
subject him/her to 30 days psychological study in order to know more
about the prisoner in terms of behaviour, desire and thinking.
subject him/her to 30 days psychological study in order to know more
about the prisoner in terms of behaviour, desire and thinking.
“When this study is completed, we then
make informed decisions as to whether the prisoner would perform better
under our National Open University degree programme or our
entrepreneurial/industry programme.’’
make informed decisions as to whether the prisoner would perform better
under our National Open University degree programme or our
entrepreneurial/industry programme.’’
The industrial programme is
necessary because not all of them have the capacity to go through the
academic rigours and so, they prefer to engage in choice handiworks.
necessary because not all of them have the capacity to go through the
academic rigours and so, they prefer to engage in choice handiworks.
“Therefore, we had to create the industry
programme to cater for non-educational lovers as a way of reforming,
rehabilitating and re-integrating them fully into the society.
programme to cater for non-educational lovers as a way of reforming,
rehabilitating and re-integrating them fully into the society.
“We teach them skills like shoe making,
furniture, farming, tailoring and iron works to mention a few and that
is why we brought some of them here to display their wares,” he said.
furniture, farming, tailoring and iron works to mention a few and that
is why we brought some of them here to display their wares,” he said.
NPS chief however, lamented that lack of funds and tutors was hindering the expansion of the scope of the industry programme.
One of the major reasons for partaking in
the SME clinic was to talk to certain federal government agencies such
as Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agencies and Bank of
Industry on how they could help the prisoners expand
their handiworks and promote them.
the SME clinic was to talk to certain federal government agencies such
as Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agencies and Bank of
Industry on how they could help the prisoners expand
their handiworks and promote them.
In addition, Ogbodo said with the
combined effort of the Controller General of Nigerian Prisons and the
Minister of Interior, some tools would be provided for prisoners free.
combined effort of the Controller General of Nigerian Prisons and the
Minister of Interior, some tools would be provided for prisoners free.
Mr Kelvin Enuoka, the Commander in charge
of the Nigeria Prisons Industry programme, said the output of the
programme had been very encouraging and impacting.
of the Nigeria Prisons Industry programme, said the output of the
programme had been very encouraging and impacting.
Enuoka said about 50 prisoners were currently involved in the programme of the service.
“We have different
workshops where we train prisoners on their skill of choice ranging from
tailoring, shoe-making, furniture, farming, iron works and bag making.
workshops where we train prisoners on their skill of choice ranging from
tailoring, shoe-making, furniture, farming, iron works and bag making.
“I was sent abroad by NPS
for training in order to also impart these skills to interested
prisoners as a way of rehabilitating and reintegrating them completely
into the society.
for training in order to also impart these skills to interested
prisoners as a way of rehabilitating and reintegrating them completely
into the society.
“So many people are amazed
that such shoes, uniforms and other things as exhibited here are the
handiwork of prisoners such that an aide bought one without knowing it
was one of the prisoners
that made it,” he said.
that such shoes, uniforms and other things as exhibited here are the
handiwork of prisoners such that an aide bought one without knowing it
was one of the prisoners
that made it,” he said.
A prisoner under the Industry Programme, Chimezie Okemefuna, said he learnt shoe making through the programme.
Okemefuna expressed delight
that an aide to the vice president bought one of his products, adding
that it gave him hope that shoe making was his calling.
that an aide to the vice president bought one of his products, adding
that it gave him hope that shoe making was his calling.
“The man had already bought
the shoe before he knew that I was the one that made it which makes me
proud and I will tell others what happened when I get back to prison,”
Okemefuna said.
the shoe before he knew that I was the one that made it which makes me
proud and I will tell others what happened when I get back to prison,”
Okemefuna said.
Some of the items displayed at the
exhibition include leather shoes and bags, NPS uniforms for staff and
inmates as well as farm produce like eggs and yams.
exhibition include leather shoes and bags, NPS uniforms for staff and
inmates as well as farm produce like eggs and yams.
