Nigerian Correctional Service

History was made today in Agodi Custodial Center as the Zonal Coordinator, Zone F Command, ACG Ogunyemi Abimbola, presented certificates to 72 inmates who graduated as certified bakers and also commission for operation a bakery in the facility that will be operated by the inmates and its products sold beyond the facility walls.

The laudable project was made possible through a collaborative effort between the management of the facility and a Non Governmental Organization, Anchor Heritage International.

While delivering her speech, the ACG praised the efforts of the Operations Manager and Director of Anchor Heritage, Mr Bidemi Oladipupo for considering and making possible an operational bakery in the facility. She also appreciated him for taking a step further to train 109 inmates in making bread and other products out of which 72 graduated and showed their skills through examinations and practicals.

She strongly noted the alignment of this gesture to section 14 of the NCoS Act of 2019 that allows establishment of industrial centres in the facilities while allowing inmates that are of good and emulative behaviour to work and earn income through such schemes.

In his own remark, the Controller of Corrections in Oyo State, Mr Ogundipe Sunday Adegboyega who was ably represented by deputy controller of corrections, Ogunleye Seyi gave kudos to the organisers of the project and also commended the efforts of the Officer in Charge of the facility who must have done a lot to seeing the project become a reality. He also drummed on the members of the society to emulate the good acts of Anchor Heritage and support the Correctional Service to see inmates rehabilitated, reformed and successfully reintegrated back to the society.

Earlier while giving his welcome address, the Officer in Charge of the facility, Engineer Ayodele Samuel appreciated the presence of the ACG and the State Controller at the event while also enlightening everyone present of how he was able to get Mr Bidemi Oladipupo, the Director of Anchor Heritage to commit to the project. He hailed the support of the NGO not only for the project but other projects which they have done in the past.

Mr Bidemi Oladipupo in his response reiterated the commitment of Anchor Heritage to the betterment of the lives of inmates and ex-inmates. He stated that part of the mission of the organisation is to empower inmates through various skills acquisition and to also provide an enabling environment for such skills to be used. He further stated that the organisation is also committed to empowering ex-inmates and guiding them so as not to return to the lifestyle that got them in trouble in the first instance.

Also present at the event were representatives of Prison Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Prison Rehabilitation and Law Abiding Organisation Intl. (PRALARG), Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) and Prison Muslim Welfare Forum.