Inmates in Gombe commend FG’s skills acquisition initiative for custodial facilities
Inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Billiri, Gombe State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), have commended the federal government’s skills-oriented empowerment programme at the centre.
The inmates gave the commendation in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday during a ceremony to recognise the best graduating inmate of the skills acquisition programme at the centre.
Ahmad Abubakar, who emerged overall best graduating inmate, said the federal government, through NCoS, was reforming inmates at the facility.
Abubakar said the empowerment would enable them contribute to the development of the society when they served out their sentences.
Abubakar, who has spent four years at the centre, said the training in various skills showed that the federal government was committed to job creation and youth empowerment irrespective of where the youth were.
“If we at this centre can be given skills acquisition training in different skills to help us become better citizens and steer clear of drugs, then the NCoS has lived up to their mandate,” he said.
He expressed his appreciation to DCC Christopher Jen, the officer in-charge of the centre, for encouraging the inmates to acquire skills and become better persons when they returned to the society.
“I am happy that I received a sewing machine today for being the overall best; since I will be discharged this year, I have hope to set up my own shop immediately I am released,” he said.
Another inmate, 43-year-old Jibrin Mohammed, said the productive nature of the correctional centre had made it imperative for inmates to be engaged and empowered with various skills.
Mohammed wondered why the government and the NCoS would care so much for them by empowering them to be self-reliant, “this is what has been my motivation to learn and I am glad I learnt well.”
While commending the federal government, Mohammed who had spent 13 years at the correctional facility appealed to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to support the centre with materials so as to engage more inmates.
While presenting the award to Abubakar, CSP Nuhu Paul Pama, the Divisional Police Officer, Kaltungo commended the inmates for showing interest in skills acquisition.
Pama stated that the sewing machine donated to Abubakar was to encourage other inmates to show more commitment in empowering themselves with relevant skills.
Mr Christopher Jen, Deputy Controller of Corrections, Billiri Medium Security Custodial Centre, told NAN that over 170 inmates were empowered with different skills in 2021.
Jen stated that the inmates were trained in 12 different skills while more of the inmates had commenced another batch of training.
“We are doing this in compliance with our mandate of effecting corrective changes by empowering the inmates to become assets to the society,” he said.
Jen commended the efforts of the federal government and the Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa as well as the state command for their support in empowering inmates with skills.
Wow this is wonderful hopefully this impacts their lives and gives them a turnaround