Thirty-four inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, on Wednesday graduated from a skills acquisition programme designed to prepare them for reintegration into society.
The graduands, comprising 17 male and 17 female inmates, completed various vocational training programmes under the Onesimus Project of Prison Fellowship Nigeria.
A female graduand emerged as the overall best student and received a sewing machine to support her vocational practice.
A total of six graduands were recognised as outstanding.
The Assistant Controller-General of Corrections, Zone A, Lagos and Ogun states, Unazi Ogaba, who was the special guest of honour, urged the graduands to shun crime and use the skills acquired during incarceration to contribute positively to society.
Ogaba, represented by the Controller of Corrections, Olusegun Monehin, congratulated the graduands, describing their achievement as evidence that rehabilitation was possible and that incarceration could provide an opportunity for a new beginning.
He said the Onesimus Project had equipped the inmates with education and vocational skills to prepare them for entrepreneurship, peaceful coexistence and responsible citizenship after their release.
Ogaba said the programme had also helped restore their dignity, rebuild their self-esteem and provide them with the tools needed to become productive members of their communities.
“The certificate you receive today is more than paper; it is a symbol of your transformation. Go forth and show the world that you are transformed, reformed and ready to contribute positively to society. Do not return to crime; return to the community as an asset,” he said.
He commended the European Union, Prison Fellowship Nigeria, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria and Covenant University for supporting the initiative.
Ogaba also praised the facilitators and other partners for investing in the development of the inmates, expressing confidence that the skills acquired would help them build better lives after their release.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Dr Jacob Tsado, represented by the Deputy Executive Director, Niyi Sanusi, said the programme demonstrated the importance of rehabilitation, renewed hope and second chances.
He said, “The Onesimus Project reminds us that a person’s past does not have to define their future. Every individual deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, rebuild their life, and make a meaningful contribution to society.
“Through faith, discipline, mentorship, and a supportive community, lives can be changed and new beginnings made possible.”
Tsado urged the graduands to apply the values they had acquired during the programme, including integrity and compassion, as they returned to society.
“You are not merely graduates of a programme; you are ambassadors of hope and living testimonies that change is possible,” he said.
He also called on communities to support former inmates seeking to rebuild their lives, noting that rehabilitation should not end with graduation.
“When we offer people a genuine opportunity to start again, we strengthen not only individuals and families, but also our communities and our nation,” he added.
In her opening remarks, the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Prof Chioma Agomo, said the project was designed to restore, reconnect and rebuild lives.
Agomo explained that Onesimus was a biblical figure who fled from his master, Philemon, encountered Apostle Paul in prison and was subsequently sent back after his transformation.
She said her encounter with Prison Fellowship Nigeria about 15 years ago exposed her to the transformative impact of rehabilitation on inmates.
Agomo recalled meeting a female inmate who had enjoyed considerable privileges before her incarceration but said drug-related problems had led to her imprisonment.
According to her, the encounter reinforced the need to give inmates opportunities to change and rebuild their lives.
She urged the graduands to return to society with confidence rather than shame, stressing that the skills they had acquired could help them become productive members of their communities.
“You may have a scar, but your transformation will show. You are re-entering society to show that you can add value to it,” she said.
Agomo added, “There is no need for you to go in shame. Showcase what you have learnt while you were incarcerated.”
Also speaking, the Project Officer of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, Samson Onwusonye, commended the graduands for remaining committed to the programme despite the challenges of incarceration.
“What I am witnessing today is that I have seen people who were incarcerated but did not give up,” he said.
Onwusonye noted that while some people might give up in difficult circumstances, the graduands had demonstrated the determination to acquire skills and prepare for a new life.
He said the project reflected the possibility of helping people who had been considered unproductive to become useful members of society.
Onwusonye added that the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme had maintained a partnership with the Nigerian Correctional Service over the years.
In his remarks, Pastor Sule Bamigbola said the initiative began as a modest idea in 2009 but had grown into a programme with a wider impact on inmates and communities.
He thanked the project’s partners, including Covenant University, SMEDAN, the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, for their support.
Bamigbola said the project was established partly to address recidivism, the tendency of former inmates to return to crime and prison.
He disclosed that research conducted by the organisation had initially indicated that 88 per cent of every 100 inmates released from correctional centres returned to prison.
“After the research, we said this was not acceptable. Through the research, we have less than 15 per cent that come back to the correctional centres,” he said.
He said the organisation hoped to extend the programme to other parts of the country, including the South-West, South-East and northern regions.
According to him, the fellowship also runs other initiatives, including medical outreaches, while some former participants have established businesses in areas such as soap-making and barbing.
“It is a life-changing project; do not take it for granted,” Bamigbola told the graduands.
He urged them to share their knowledge with others and use their skills to support themselves and reduce crime in society.
“We want to see a situation where we would have nobody in prison. We are also carrying out activities to ensure that crime is reduced,” he said.
Bamigbola disclosed that 752 inmates had graduated from the Onesimus Project since its inception.
In her remarks, a representative of SMEDAN, Tosin, encouraged the graduands to maintain contact with the agency and other programme partners after their release.
She said the agency was established to support small businesses and urged the graduands to put their training into practice and seek further opportunities to develop their skills.
Also, the Onesimus Project Manager, Pastor Felix Anayo, said 52 inmates had initially indicated interest in participating in the programme, but were later reduced to 34, as some were released from custody before completing the training.
He said the cooperation of the correctional authorities enabled those inmates to return and complete their training.