The Deputy Controller of Prisons, Oyo State, Mrs. Itunu Udoh has said that the reformation of inmates to make them useful to the society after completion of their jail terms is top priority to the service.
Udoh said this at the monthly motivational talks organised for the inmates at Agodi Prisons on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised by an Ibadan-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Total Motivation Network Initiative.
Udoh said the command was doing its best to reform all inmates in the prison, saying the motivational talks was an aspect of the reformation process.
“We bring in eminent personalities to speak with the inmates on how to adjust their lives to the prison system, learn vocational skills and encourage those who want to prepare for one examination or the other.
“They are admonished to stop bad behaviour and encouraged not to see their imprisonment as punishment but as a way to mold them to be useful persons in the society after completion of their prison terms,’’ she said.
In his address, Mr Jao Adewoye, the Oyo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), urged the inmates to focus their minds in being better persons in life.
“Visualise yourself out of prison to become the kind of man or woman you want to be, not as criminals but rather as new beings with a new beginning.
“Pick or have interest in your chosen job, focus and be hard working on your vocational training, value yourself, your work and always put in your best,’’ he counselled.
The commandant further urged the inmates to see prison as a centre for reformation, rehabilitation and recreation to become a better person in the nearest future.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the NGO, Apostle Godfrey Femi, said that the efforts at maintaining peaceful society would not be materialised if inmates were neglected.
“Prison is a place where people we tagged as criminals in the society are confined.
“When we talk of peace and orderliness in the society, then we are talking of people that are breaching the orderliness and the place they are confined is the prison.
“For this very course, if we are to fight for peace/orderliness in the society and neglect the prison, then the work is half done, also if we just work in the prison and neglect the society/the public places then the work is half done.
“So the organisation is focusing on the society and the prison such that we are to complement people coming out of prison passing through integration, rehabilitation and reformation back into the society,’’ the coordinator stated.
He called on all stakeholders to work toward a peaceful and crime-free society.
NAN reports that more than 200 inmates participated in the motivational talks.
NAN also reports that the inmates were in a joyous mood and hopeful of a better future. (NAN)
