32 ex-convicts get life skills starter packs

Don’t stigmatize ex-inmates, Nababa urges public

After serving their full terms in jail, 32 ex-inmates trained in various life skills have been given after care start-up packs to enable them. economically empower themselves and contribute to their communities.

Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCoS), Haliru Nababa, while giving benefiting ex-inmates the after care packs yesterday in Abuja, said a steady source of income is essential for their reintegration into to society.

The CG said “The Aftercare Scheme is an extension of the humane care and attention given to inmates while in incarceration.

“It is fundamental to ensuring that offenders’ reentry to society, after serving their respective jail terms, is easy and seamless.

“The essence of this scheme is to retool ex-inmates, thereby encouraging them to be productive and self-sustaining.”

This according to him, “remains the best way to keep them away from crime and criminality, making our communities safe and a better place to live, for all.”

Represented by the DCG Sylvester Nwakuche in charge of Inmate Training and Productivity, Nababa further explained that sections 10 and 14 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019 clearly mandates the correctional service to provide opportunities for vocational skills training for inmates so as to facilitate their smooth reintegration to the society.

He urged the public to avoid stigmatizing ex offenders so that they can reintegrate and make meaningful contributions to the economy of the nation.

“I wish to call on all well-meaning Nigerians to wholly accept these reformed citizens, desist from stigmatizing them and support their progress by patronizing them.

“I also wish to inform the public that beyond the After-Care Scheme, the Service is doing quite a lot in setting social misfits on the path of propriety.

“This we do through psycho-social services, guidance and counselling, chaplaincy services, agricultural activities, adult literacy classes as well as our long-standing partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as well as other tertiary institutions,” he said.

The benefiting inmates drawn from various parts of the country who learned skills such as masonry, tailoring, hairdressing and others, expressed gratitude to the government and assured they will make food use of the start-up packs.