In Nigeria prisons, however, there is a seeming inadequacy in the availability of working tools for various kind of skilled labour or other means of reformation thereby making it difficult for prisoners to acquire practical knowledge or professional skills that will make the process of rehabilitation easier on them and further stop them from getting back into crime.
This situation has over time been attributed to the dearth of funds to the prison authority leading to inability to provide equipment and other tools that are important to skill acquisition and real reformation of inmates across Nigerian prisons.
But, the hope of a sustainable life after completing prison terms brightened for some convicts at the Medium Security Prison in Ile Ife when an organization, Springtime Development Foundation, a non-governmental body donated computer desktops, sewing machines, bundles of clothes, sewing threads among other items to aid the process of skill acquisition.
The foundation, which commenced its outreach to convicts in Nigeria Prison Service in Ilesa some months back said their resolve was to give hope, necessary assistance and also provide empowerment tools to prison inmates with a view to prepare them efficiently as independent people in life after completing their prison sentence.
Presenting the items to authorities of the Nigeria Prison Service, Ile-Ife, the vice chairman of Springtime Development Foundation, Mr Banji Adesuyi explained that there is a need for wealthy Nigerians, corporate organisations and other relevant stakeholders to partner with government in enhancing the welfare of prisoners and also boost their human capital development so that they can contribute meaningfully to the nation after completion of their jail terms.
He maintained that government at all tiers should not be left alone to combat the social and economic challenges confronting the country against the backdrop of economic recession, adding that apart from contributing to campaign against stigma on the part of convicts, concrete efforts should be made by Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other bodies to help inmates in Nigeria Prisons.
“We are happy to be here today. But, it is a coincidence that this donation is coming up the same day some officers of the Nigeria Prisons Service are retiring after diligent service to our great country. We did not plan something like this. Usually, when we do our things, we do it in secret. We don’t pronounce ourselves but God announces us. On behalf of Springtime Development Foundation, I am representing the chairman and the donor, Dr Deji Adeleke. He is the one that sends us here today.
“The genesis of this activity started from Ilesa and in the previous months, we have donated mattresses, pillowcases to the two prisons, both in Ilesa and Ife. When we visited the prisons, we realised that there is a need to do more and encourage inmates for skills acquisition. We believe that being in prison is not the last thing in life. You can improve and a lot of well-known people have been in prison and they came out to be leaders of great countries”.
“These materials we are donating are primarily for the inmates. We are presenting six computers, three UPS, extension boxes, five sewing machines, pressing irons, barbing clippers, five scissors for cloths cutting, eight packages of a thread, machine oil and a roll of clothing materials that they can practice with. Added to these, we are also donating N150,000 for the Officers Mess and we promise to do better in the future to assist the inmates and officers of the Nigeria Prison Service”.
In his remark, the Managing Director of Springtime Development Foundation, Pastor Samuel Oyalabu said “our organisation is passionately committed to building a better society and also assist the needy in securing a better life. Our management would continue to uphold and promote the vision of our chairman, Dr Deji Adeleke in giving hope to the people in our society”.
While underscoring the need for eminent and wealthy Nigerians to give back to the society, a friend of the foundation, Barrister Amos Adekunle stated that, I want to on behalf of the inmates congratulate your foundation and we pray that the Almighty God will enable you to do more for them and I will also be available to accompany you to do more for them”.
Receiving the donated materials, the Assistant Comptroller of Prisons, Medium Security Prison, Ile-Ife, Mr Matthew Ajagono Dave expressed appreciation to the organization for the support for inmates and prayed that God will continue to meet with the desires of their heart in all ramifications as the donations will positively impact the inmates.
Responding on behalf of the inmates, Mr Maha Kaikene, an indigene of Delta State, who was convicted for kidnapping in 2012 thanked the foundation for the kind gestures noting that the materials would go a long way in giving them practical experience in various vocational skills.
and then