During the 12th graduation and 13th matriculation ceremony held at the Nigerian Correctional Services, Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri, Lagos, the Onesimus Project Life Recovery Pre-release Empowerment Programme, Lagos, appealed to Nigerians for support and understanding toward released prisoners, emphasizing the importance of avoiding stigmatization.
According to The PUNCH, the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Mr. Benson Iwagwu, while highlighting the program’s significance stated that it is a six-month vocational and mentorship initiative designed to equip inmates with essential skills and guidance, facilitating their successful reintegration into society upon release.
The Onesimus Project collaborated with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, Prison Fellowship Nigeria, and Covenant University in Ogun State to implement the program.
Iwagwu urged society members to refrain from making judgments about former inmates and instead offer them the support and acceptance needed to transition back into mainstream society.
“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.
During the event, Mr. Olukayade Shode, representing the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr. Adewale Fasanya, disclosed that the project currently encompasses 500 individuals who have successfully completed their training.
He emphasised that the primary objective of the initiative is to facilitate the rehabilitation and integration of the incarcerated individuals.
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.”
