In a significant step towards empowering inmates and facilitating their reintegration into society, the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande visited the Kuje Correctional Center to unveil the “1 Youth 2 Skills” initiative, a flagship program under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
While addressing the inmates, the Hon. Minster expressed the commitment of the Federal Government through the ministry of Youth Development and Ministry of Interior to provide comprehensive vocational and digital skills training aimed at equipping them with the necessary skills for a smother reintegration into the public upon their release.
Mr. Olawande assured them that the government is dedicated to creating opportunities for them to make a meaningful living after their exit from the correctional centre.
The Minister emphasized the importance of empowering youths through skills acquisitions. He disclosed that plans are underway to organise sensitization programs to reshape public perceptions of inmates and ex-convicts.
In his remarks, the Controller of Correctional Services, FCT Command, Francis John disclosed that the total of 1,225 inmates are currently serving different jail terbms in the facility.
He commended the federal government’s effort to improve the lives of inmates.
The controller emphasized the significance of vocational training for inmates in the centre and therefore called for additional resources for enhanced learning, especially as youths account for 90% of the inmates. He solicited for collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development to ensure better livelihoods and reintegration of the inmates to society after their exit from the centres.
The Hon. Minister was accompanied on the visit by the SSA to the president on Citizenship and Training Center, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, the SA to the president on Youth Initiative Monitoring and Delivery, Ms. Titilope Gbadamosi and the SSA to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Ms. Abiola Arogundade.
Maryam Umar Yusuf
Head, Press and Public Relations Unit
