The Onesimus Project Life Recovery Pre-release Empowerment Programme, Lagos, has called on Nigerians to support prisoners and not stigmatise released inmates.
Speaking on Wednesday at the 12th graduation and 13th matriculation ceremony of inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Services, Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, the Executive Director, Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Mr Benson Iwagwu, explained that the programme was a six-month vocational and mentorship training aimed at assisting inmates to integrate seamlessly into society when released.
The programme was in partnership between Onesimus Project and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Covenant University, Ogun State.
Iwagwu advised members of the society not to be judgmental of released inmates.
“The society can’t continue to be a judge to those who have served their prison term. If after they come out, they are ostracised, discriminated against, it fuels crime, and recidivism. So, those are the things we are trying to educate people about. We want to be able to change that social attitude of being discriminatory to that of helping those who have fallen. We should stretch our hands to help the needy,” he said.
The Director General, SMEDAN, Mr Adewale Fasanya, who was represented by Mr Olukayade Shode, revealed that the project now had 500 graduands, saying it aimed at rehabilitating and integrating the inmates.
He said, “We need to keep engaging them, to make them have something to do with their hands. The government cannot provide jobs. That is why we have SMEDAN.”