Education, Skills Critical Tools For Inmates’ Reformation – Controller

• Ben-Rabbi Freedman, Controller of Correction, Lagos State, underscores education and skills acquisition as vital for inmates’ reformation and rehabilitation
• Freedman inaugurates the NOUN special examination and skills acquisition center, emphasizing its positive impact on inmates’ rehabilitation

Ben-Rabbi Freedman, Controller of Correction, Lagos State Command, Nigeria Correctional Service, highlighted the pivotal role of education and skills acquisition in reforming and rehabilitating inmates. He made these remarks during the inauguration of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) special examination and skills acquisition center at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ikoyi, on Tuesday.

Freedman emphasized the significance of building human capacity through education and skills acquisition for any country to develop substantially. He stated that the custodial center mirrors the larger society.

According to the controller, education acts as a game changer regarding mindset, paving the way for positive transformations. He stressed the universal need for education, irrespective of an individual’s circumstances.

“Today, we are here to formally inaugurate the examination/vocational centre of the NOUN, here in our facility. The Nigerian Correctional Service has been in a very productive partnership since 2010, providing inmates with the opportunity to access education and acquire vocational skills.

“It has been a worthy partnership between the correctional services and the NOUN because, to date, we have enrolled over 2,000 inmates across the federation. This center is the second in the state and the 12th in the country. In Lagos state, it has been like the pacesetter because the first-ever study and vocational center for the correctional service, in collaboration with the NOUN, is at our Kirikiri facility,” he explained.

Freedman acknowledged the challenges faced in transporting inmates to the Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Centre for examinations and highlighted the positive impact of the education and vocational initiatives on the rehabilitation process.