By Felix Kuyinu
A group has solicited for the provision of formal education for inmates as part of measures in making them better persons during and after rehabilitation.
The Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation, CELSIR, gave the recommendation during an event held for launching the Nigerian Chapter of Global Freedom Scholars Network in Ikeja Lagos.
The group a the program tagged “Maximizing Education as a Rehabilitation Tool for Justice-Impacted Persons” called for an increase in enrolment of prison inmates in the formal education system.
CELSIR’s Executive Director, Joke Aladesanmi, stated that the group, through individuals brought together by the justice system discovered the need to have a dialogue on utilizing the educational sector to advocate for more improved prison education in shaping the minds of inmates for a positive mindset.
The Director said, “We are dedicated to amplifying education and advocating its availability and accessibility to marginalised incarcerated persons.
“CELSIR’s major intervention is providing educational support, including secondary and post-secondary preparation, leveraging technology, enrolling prisoners in educational programmes, and supplying educational resources.
“Over 350 incarcerated individuals have benefited from their educational assistance projects, including a prison library project and the introduction of NOUN. We have quite more people who have benefitted from it.”
Stakeholders at the event while describing education as a fundamental human right for incarcerated individuals hinted that university-level education in prisons fosters leadership and promotes structural change in justice systems globally.
