As the world celebrates the legacy of Nelson Mandela today, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and the innovative non-profit organization Chess in Slums Africa have joined forces to bring the transformative game of chess to the Maiduguri Maximum and Medium Security Custodial Centers, in Borno state.
This groundbreaking initiative aims to challenge the stigma associated with imprisonment by highlighting the potential for growth and change within inmates. The program aspires to reduce the rate of re-offending and contribute to safer communities by focusing on rehabilitation and skill development. Through this program, inmates can engage in meaningful activities that stimulate their minds and promote a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Nelson Mandela believed in the potential for change within every individual, and chess can fuel that change!
Speaking on the importance of this initiative, the Deputy Country Representative of UNODC in Nigeria, Danilo Campisi, said “Chess, with its intellectual rigor and strategic thinking, can equip inmates with critical life skills, improve their mental health, and provide a constructive outlet for their energy. While inmates (prisoners) may have made wrong choices in life, it is crucial that we support and empower them with skills that aid their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. UNODC is excited about this initiative and the partnership with the Nigerian Correctional Service and Chess in Slums Africa. Through this programme, we hope to see the next chess champions emerge from the custodial centre.”
The Controller General of Corrections Haliru Nababa, FICMC, MFR, mni represented by the Deputy Controller of Corrections, Slyvester Nwakuche mfr mni added “Chess holds transformative potential beyond its role as a recreational activity. It’s a game that cultivates critical thinking, concentration and decision making skills and attributes that are fundamental to personal growth and rehabilitation. By introducing chess into the Nigerian Correctional Service, we aim to provide inmates with a constructive outlet for their energies.”
Tunde Onakoya, Founder of Chess in Slums Africa, shared his vision: “We have seen firsthand how chess can transform lives in the most challenging environments. Bringing chess to custodial centres is a natural extension of our mission to use the game as a tool for social change. We are honoured to partner with UNODC to make this a reality.”
Inmates expressed their excitement about the programme, stating that learning chess will provide them with a mental escape and a new way to approach problem-solving. One inmate who participated in the pilot phase shared, “Chess teaches us to think before we act, to plan ahead. These are lessons that go beyond the game”
This initiative was launched following the commissioning and handover of a newly built and equipped clinic and a furnished showroom constructed to display products made by inmates from the two custodial centres in Borno state, the day before.
Earlier this week, UNODC also donated sports equipment and apparel to six custodial centres in northeast Nigeria, including Maiduguri Maximum and Medium Security Custodial Centers in Borno, aiming to promote sports in these facilities. The NCoS Controller of Corrections for Borno State, Abdullahi Dahiru Mbaya, fsi speaking at the handover event, emphasized that the support from UNODC with funding from the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), will help the correctional service showcase the remarkable talents and abilities of inmates – “ this intervention will contribute to the Correctional Service fulfilling its mandate regarding rehabilitation of inmates and allow the public to see the potential of the inmates, inspiring hope for their futures beyond the walls of the custodial centres”.
UNODC, the Nigerian Correctional Service and Chess in Slums Africa invite you to support this initiative and follow the journey of the inmates as they learn, grow, and transform through the game of chess.
UNODC is grateful for the funding received from the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) as well as the Federal Government of Germany (2021-2023) for its work on prison and penal reform in Nigeria. Source: UNODC
