- Vocational training team wins maiden competition as NCoS intensifies rehabilitation, reintegration efforts
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has pledged to facilitate employment opportunities for inmates upon their release, as part of efforts to promote rehabilitation, reduce barriers to reintegration and help former inmates rebuild their lives.
The pledge was made by the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Peter Jen, on Thursday during the maiden debate competition organised by the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, to examine the role of formal education and vocational skills acquisition in preparing inmates for life after incarceration.
The competition featured two teams of five inmates each, with Team A arguing in favour of formal education and Team B advocating vocational skills acquisition. At the end of the contest, the panel of judges declared Team B the winner.
Jen said the command was collaborating with relevant stakeholders and support organisations to facilitate employment opportunities for discharged inmates, stressing that access to meaningful work could improve their prospects of rebuilding their lives and reintegrating successfully into society.
He expressed confidence that inmates could attain positions of leadership and responsibility if given the necessary support, education and opportunities to reform.
“An inmate today can be a governor or any high-ranking individual in society tomorrow, if properly reformed,” he said.
The controller also commended the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, for the opportunity to serve, noting that his experience had reinforced his commitment to strengthening inmate rehabilitation and reformation across the FCT Command.
The Officer-in-Charge of the Kuje custodial centre, Assistant Controller of Corrections Adekunmi Sunday, said the debate reflected the facility’s determination to promote learning, personal development and reformation rather than focus exclusively on confinement.
“Custody without training is punishment; custody with training is correction,” Sunday said.
He described formal education and vocational training as essential components of rehabilitation, urging inmates to acquire knowledge and practical skills that would improve their prospects upon release.
Sunday added that he expected every inmate under his supervision to acquire at least one of the two, emphasising the importance of preparing inmates to contribute positively to society after completing their sentences.
The debate was designed to strengthen participants’ intellectual abilities, build confidence, encourage critical thinking and promote constructive engagement among inmates. It also provided a platform for them to articulate their positions, defend their arguments and engage with differing perspectives.
Representatives of partner organisations and support groups delivered goodwill messages at the event, commending the NCoS for initiatives aimed at advancing inmate education, skills development and rehabilitation.
In a vote of thanks delivered on behalf of the officer-in-charge, Superintendent of Corrections Yusuf Muye expressed appreciation to the FCT Controller, partner organisations, custodial staff and inmates for their contributions to the success of the programme.
The centre announced that the debate competition would become a regular feature of its reformation calendar, signalling its intention to sustain intellectual development and constructive engagement as part of its rehabilitation activities.
The employment pledge underscores the importance of linking correctional education and vocational training with opportunities in the labour market, particularly as former inmates often face difficulties securing jobs and rebuilding their livelihoods after release.
However, the command did not disclose the number of discharged inmates expected to benefit from the proposed employment initiative or identify the organisations involved in the planned partnerships.
The success of the initiative will therefore depend, in part, on the development of concrete employment pathways, sustained collaboration with employers and the availability of practical training that meets labour-market needs.
